Army Aviation Digest - Sep 1993

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United States Army
Aviation
September/October 1993 Di 9 es t
EARLY ENTRY
- DEPLOYABLE
CONCEPT FOR AVIATION ___ ••••
24-HOUR
OPERATIONS
AVIATION RESTRUCTURE INITIATIVE
FOUNDA TlON FOR THE FUTURE
=k-::"J:-----:-:9---

1970 1980
LETHAL
WITHIN RESOURCES
1993
21st
Century
Professional Bulletin 1-93-5 Distribution restriction: This publication approved for public release. Distribution unlimited.
Aviation Digest
Professional Bulletin
1- 93 -5 • September/October 1993
ARNG Aviation Training Sites: Total Army Partners,
MG Dave Robinson
3 Views From Readers
7 U.S. Army Operational Concept for Aviation, COL
Charles M. Burke and CN Donald C. Presgraves
14 Aviation Restructure Initiative-The Way to the
Future, LTC Rick Scales
18 Future of the Anny's Cockpit Crash Protection, Mr.
Kent F. Smith
24 The 160th SOAR(A) Sets Rotary-Wing Endurance
Record, CN Michael 1. York
28 The High--Capacity Air Ambulance, CN Jarres M.
Marotta
32 Arming the OH-58D, COL John O. Benson
34 The Anny Drawdown and Aviation Safety, CW3 Alfred
L. Rice
36 Corps Air Cavalry Operations in the Deep Battle, CJYf
Wensley Barker
39 Aviation Officers Should Be Commanding Heavy
Division Cavalry Squadrons, CN Howard E. Arey
41 Aviation Personnel Notes: Warrant Officer
Career Paths, CW5 Clifford L. Brown
43 A viation Logistics: Maintenance Test Flight: A
Different Kind of Risk, MAl Russell M. Stansifer
46 A TC Focus: Doing More With Less, Mr. Neal E.
Johnson
47 TEXCOM: The Improved Recovery Vehide, Mr.
Wayne E. Hair
49 Soldiers' Spotlight: Master Sergeant Promotion Board
Analysis, CSM Freely Finch Jr.
The U.S. Army Aviation Digest is an official Department of the
Army professional bulletin (ISSN: 0004-2471) (USPS415-350) published
bimonthly under the supervision of the commander, U.S. Army Aviation
Center. This publication presents professional information, but the
views expressed herein are those of the author not the Department of
Defense or its elements. The content does not necessarily reflect the
official U.S. Army position and does not change or supersede any
information unless otherwise specified. Photos are U.S. Army unless
otherwise specified. Use of the masculine pronoun is intended to include
both genders unless otherwise stated. Material may be reprinted
provided credit is given to the A viation Digest and to the author unless
otherwise indicated. Publication uses recyclable paper.
This medium is approved for the dissemination of material designed
to keep individuals within the Aviation Branch knowledgeable of current
and emerging developments within their areas of expertise to enhance
their professional development. Articles, photos, and items of interest
on Army Aviation are invited. Direct communication is authorized by
Cover: As Anny Aviation advances on the
21st century, continued evolution of
doctrine places more and more emphasis on
the role of aviation in the early entry of the
Force Projection Anny ... The key to
maintaining the edge-in a downsized
military-will come from technology and the
streamlined fielding of materiel. The lead
article starts on page 7; a supporting article
starts on page 14.
Major General Dave Robinson
Commander, U.S. Army Aviation Center
Major Steven R. Eisenhart
Executive Editor
Patricia S. Kitchell
Editor
By order of the Secretary of the Army:
GORDON R. SULLIVAN
General , U.S. Army
Chief of Staff
Official :
MILTON H. HAMILTON
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army
05 329
writing Editor, U.S. Army Aviation Digest, ATTN: ATZQ-PAO-AD,
Fort Rucker, AL 36362-5042, or by calling either DSN 558-3178 or
commercial 205-255-3178. Manuscripts returned only upon request.
Second class postage paid at Daleville, AL, and additional mailing
offices.
Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve units
receive distribution as outlined in DA Pamphlet 25-33. To complete DA
Form 12-99-R, enter form number 12-05-E, block number 0014, and
quantity. Also use DA Form 12-99-R for any change in distribution
requirements. Army units submit the form to their publications control
officer.
Personal copies of the Digest can be ordered from New Orders,
Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, PittSburgh, PA
15250-7954.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to U.S. Government
Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, A TIN: Chief, Mail List
Branch, Mail Stop: SSOM, Washington, DC 20402-9373.
iW':r,:,"·6
Major General Dave Robinson
ARNG Aviation Training Sites: Total Army Partners
T he national military strategy
requires our Army to deter aggres-
sion and, should deterrence fail,
defend the nation's vital interests.
The force must be capable of win-
ning two major conflicts at nearly
the same time or participate in a
variety of operations other than war.
Office of the Secretary of Defense's
bottom-up review of military force
structure proposes greater reli ance
on reserve forces. As force structure
deliberations continue, the resultant
force will emphasize readiness,
deployability, lethality, versatility,
and sustainability within a con-
strained resource environment.
This regional crisis response
strategy requires trained, ready,
rapidly deliverable forces. With the
Cold War era now a historical rem-
nant, the Army is challenged to de-
velop capabilities to deal with
nontradi tional roles and missions
while transitioning to a continental
United States-based, power-pro-
jection Total Army. The Reserve
Component, both Army National
Guard (ARNG) and the U.S. Army
Reserve (USAR), must maintain a
force structure capable of executing
the national military strategy.
This article addresses the role of
the Reserve Component, specifically
the ARNG Aviation Training Sites
(AATSs) and their contribution to
the Total Army. Army Aviation's
warfighting concept remains stead-
fast in complementing other combat
systems and, ultimately, achieves a
combined arms synergism which
supports the Army's modernization
objectives. Maneuver in the third di-
mension expands the Army's ver-
satility in achieving these objec-
tives by enabling the Army to fight
simultaneously throughout the ex-
panse of battle space and to quickly
change roles and missions as opera-
tions dictate. Clearly, the Reserve
Component must complement the
Active force and be capable of per-
forming these missions.
To prepare for our mission, avia-
tion training and leader develop-
ment strategy continues to empha-
size individual, crew, and collective
training, and also includes initia-
tives to enhance combat effective-
ness in spite of declining resources.
Both Active and Reserve Compo-
nent training bases provide vital
support to our training and leader
development strategy.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Total Army training and leader
development in aviation is a reality
today. The Army's quality training
standards, as embedded in the in-
stitutions of the U.S. Army Train-
ing and Doctrine Command
(TRADOC), are the standard through-
out aviation in the Total Army. A
small pool of full-time reserve of-
ficers at the Aviation Training Bri-
gade, Fort Rucker, Ala., teach stu-
dents from all components of the
Army. In addition, the AATSs playa
major role in the Army's training
system by augmenting Fort
Rucker's capability to provide train-
ing opportunities for all aviation
soldiers.
There are two AA TSs in the force
structure. They are the Eastern
AATS located at Fort Indiantown
Cap, Pa., tasked with utility, cargo,
and fixed-wing training responsi-
bilities, and the Western AATS lo-
cated at Marana, Ariz., aligned with
the attack and aeroscout programs.
The premobilization mission of the
AATS is to conduct ARNG Aviation
training and, where resourced, to
provide training for the USAR and
Active Component units. The mobili-
zation mission is to augment aviation
training as an activity under the com-
mand and control of Fort Rucker.
The Eastern AATS, organized on 1
August 1981, was an HQDA-sup-
ported, National Guard Bureau initia-
tive designed to conduct ARNG indi-
vidual aircrewmember qualification
and sustainment training focusing
on mature aircraft systems. Since
August 1981, the training si te has
flown well over 50,000 aircraft flying
hours in support of flight training
courses and 200,000 hours of UH-l
Iroquois/ AH-IF Cobra simulation.
The training site provided instruc-
tion for over 6,100 formal course
students along with 44,000 regional
simulator periods for ARNG, USAR,
and Active Component aviators. The
Eastern AA TS is staffed entirely
with ARNG personnel in a full-
time military status.
In July 1991, TRADOC selected
the Eastern AA TS as the testbed
for the first Reserve Component
Training Institution (RCTI) Quality
Assessment Program. On 9 April
1993, after a rigorous certification
program conducted by both the U.S.
Army Aviation Center and Direc-
torate of Evaluation and Stan-
dardization (DES), TRADOC fully
accredited the Eastern AATS as an
RCT!. The Eastern AATS is cur-
rently the only RCTI certified to
conduct modemized aircraft qualifi-
cation training and is conducting
UH--{)O Black Hawk, CH-47D Chi-
nook, U-21 Ute, C-12 Huron, C-23
Sherpa, C-26A Metro 3, and C-26B
Metro 23 qualifications. The East-
ern AATS relocated fixed-wing op-
erations as a detachment from Fort
Indiantown Gap to Clarksburg, W.
Va., on 6 August 1992. Quality assur-
ance for all training is provided by a
DES cell co-located at the site that is
under the direct control of DES at
Fort Rucker.
During fiscal year (FY) 94, the
Eastern AA TS has been tasked to
conduct military occupational
speciality (MOS) transition courses
2
for the 67N (UH-l), 67T (UH-60),
and 67U (CH-47) MOSs plus the
associated basic noncommissioned
officer/advanced noncommis-
sioned officer courses. Courses and
facilities have been coordinated
under the auspices of RCTI, with
courses planned to start in October
1993. Training seats for FY 94 are
currently programmed at 584 quotas.
With the advent of the Aviation
Restructure Initiative, the Eastern
AA TS is rapidly phasing out of
mature aircraft systems (OH-58 NC
Kiowa, OH-6 Cayuse, and UH-l H)
and transitioning to modernized air-
frames. However, the site has been
tasked to retain a capability in the
UH-IH for the near term. To support
modernization, an upgrade of fa-
cilities is scheduled. A major con-
struction project for a UH-60/CH-47
simulator facility has been pro-
grammed. The Fort Ord, Calif., UH-
60 simulator has been reallocated to
the Eastern AA TS at Fort
Indiantown Gap. Actions are under-
way to procure a CH-47 simulator
device for the Eastern AATS.
The Western AA TS was officially
organized in October 1986 and is
completing its fifth operational year.
Official training started in March
1987. Since that time, the Western
AATS has flown over 39,000 flight
simulator hours and over 35,000
aircraft hours wi thout a Class A or
B mishap. The Western AATS
trained 1,534 flight, 1,788 simula-
tion, 564 safety, and 940 nonflight
students.
The Flight Simulation Division
of the Western AA TS provides AH-l
Cobra Flight Weapons Simulator
(FWS) for AH-I units in the South-
western United States and Hawaii.
Since opening in May 1988, the FWS
consistently has been one of the
most frequently used simulation
devices in the Army. The Western
AA TS has a new simulator complex
that will house an AH-64 Apache
combat mission simulator, a UH-60
simulator, and possibly an AH-IF
aircrew trainer.
:rhe Western AATS is complet-
ing the draft and final environmen-
tal impact statements (EISs) re-
quired for training site growth. The
EIS represents a major stepping
stone towards Western AA TS
ex pansion. The EIS provides the
framework for the master construc-
tion plan, expanded flying areas,
and a dedicated helicopter gunnery
range of world--class caliber. A record
of decision in the EIS is expected by
December 1995.
Presently, the cadre at the West-
ern AATS is eagerly anticipating
the completion of their Picacho
Stagefield. The new stagefield will
permit significantly increased train-
ing. Its construction is scheduled
to be complete in the second quarter
of FY 94. The Western AA TS is
rapidly becoming a linchpin in
ARNG attack helicopter unit sus-
tainment training as well as a criti-
cal link for Total Army Aviation
training with ties into the various
tactical training areas in the south-
west. Quite possibly within the next
few years, contingent upon the
completion of Picacho Stagefield
and the EIS, the Western AA TS
could become capable of conduct-
ing AH-l training for the Army and
our allies.
As we restructure the Total
Force to accommodate future re-
quirements in our changing world,
Army Aviation will remain a major
contributor to the combined arms
team. Our goal is to provide a
flexible, trained, and ready force
capable of operating across a broad
continuum of operations. The ARNG
AATSs are in sync with Army Avia-
tion and are crucial players in Total
Army readiness.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
VIEWS FROM READER
This view is a follow-Dn to the
"Assignment: Fort Rucker" article
written by Major General (MG) Dave
Robinson in the May/June 1993
issue.
As a junior officer, I entered my
tour at Fort Rucker, Ala., with con-
cern and apprehension after hear-
ing so many "horror" stories about
"Mother Rucker" and the "Captain's
Curse" of serving at Fort Rucker.
Fortunately, times change and Fort
Rucker is a far different place than
it was 5 years ago.
Past images of substandard offic-
ers, overweight instructors, and
noncommissioned officers (NCOs)
retired on active duty is just that, an
image from the past. As quickly as
the personal computer has revolu-
tionized the way Americadoes busi-
ness, the Anny Aviation Warfighting
Center, has become an assignment
full of opportunities for the junior
officer. Let me offer a personal
experience from a junior officer's
perspective.
After 25 months in the Republic of
Korea, I returned to Fort Rucker as a
first lieutenant to attend the Aviation
officer advanced course. Completely
reorganized, the advanced course
com pany cadre was no longer the
"retirement community" for passed
over captains. Instead, the instruc-
tors were the finest the Anny could
provide: captains with one and two
highly successful commands, senior
aviator wings, and a wealth of experi-
ence from Operations "Just Cause"
and "Desert Storm." These officers
were extremely well versed in the tac-
tical art of war. During my tenure in
the advanced course, I witnessed
many of these captains being pro-
moted to major as they permanently
changed station to their next assign-
ment. This was a major transfor-
mation from what I could remember
from my flight school days. I was
beginning to detect that the climate
at Fort Rucker had definitely
changed.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
After I completed the advanced
course, Fort Rucker afforded me the
opportunity to attend the combined
arms and services staff school.
After I retunled to Fort Rucker, the
opportunities continued. I completed
the UH-60 Black Hawk instructor
pilot course and became a night
vision goggles (NVG) platoon
leader. In this capacity, I contin-
ued to realize the transformation
that Fort Rucker had undergone.
Instead of the overweight and
somewhat complacent instructor pi-
lots I could remember from years
past, I found myself leading 17 of
the most professional, dedicated,
and technically competent warrant
officers, and 2 of the finest Depart-
ment of the Anny civilians. This had
become the standard at Fort Rucker.
I was proud to witness numerous
chief warrant officer 2s (CW2s)
being promoted to CW3 and my
CW3 being promoted to CW4.
These officers had clearly demon-
strated the potential to serve in posi-
tions of greater responsibility and
were making their positive mark on
3
the hundreds of allied and foreign
officers they so superbly trained.
As they were permanently
changing station from Fort Rucker,
many of these officers were at-
tending the instrument flight exam-
iner course en route to their next
assignment; others were heading di-
rectly to the 160th Task Force; and
some, to full-time degree completion
programs. The opportunities that
Fort Rucker had provided them was
enonnous. My image of Fort Rucker
was continuing to grow to be very
positive.
During my 6 months as a NVG
platoon leader, I was promoted to
captain and selected for a company
command. Upon assuming command
of an advanced individual training
company, I was overwhelmed by the
dedicated and professional soldiers
assigned to Fort Rucker under my
command. Drill sergeants and NCOs
were leading from the front and con-
tributing immeasurably to the tech-
nical training and soldierization of
our junior enlisted personnel. I was
now convinced that Fort Rucker had
become a place where commissioned,
warrant, noncommissioned, and en-
listed soldiers were playing a signifi-
cant role in the shaping of aviation's
future. Fort Rucker has definitely be-
come a team, as MG Robinson said,
.. ... now comprised of highly re-
spected and successful aviation lead-
ers; i.e., past brigade, battalion, and
company commanders, warrant offic-
ers, and enlisted professionals who
come here for a single tour of duty to
contribute operational know ledge
and help shape the future across a
number of important areas."
I undoubtedly will look back
favorably on my assignment at the
"Warfighting Center" and encourage
all junior officers to seek an as-
signment at Fort Rucker.
4
CPT James R. Schenck
Commander, B Company, I-13th
Aviation Regiment
Fort Rucker, Ala.
This letter is in response to the
Aviation Personnel Notes: "So You
Want to Go to Flight School?" article
in the May/June issue. Although the
author can factually state the policy
.. that applicants must be under 29 to
apply for flight school", it is another
matter to justify that policy as good
policy by berating old aviators as
being "long in the tooth." So, here
is a towel for drying that wet spot
behind the current policy's ears!
In 1981, the flight school class I
attended was a mix of young high
school to flight school kids and Viet-
nam veteran infantrymen. We all
passed the same physical training
test and flight physical. Our class
had the energy and fresh vision of
the young soldiers that was tem-
pered by the solid judgment and
ex perience of the older military per-
sonnel. After 4 years, the percent-
age of older servicemembers re-
maining in service was greater than
the younger servicemembers who
had either left or had been released
from the Army. The biggest return on
training investment was with the
older servicemembers .
The benefit of age and experience
in a unit can be illustrated by a few
more examples. You must have the
people who know how to set up the
"general purpose (GP) mediums."
Setting up a GP medium is not some-
thing you learn in flight school or
read about in a manual. There are
many GP mediums not of the tent-
age variety. As a young warrant
officer I (WOI), I was glad for the
expertise of other WOls and W02s
who knew how to set up a GP
medium, how to set up an arms room,
and how to run a supply room.
Experience provided a lot of depth
to the unit that would not have
been there otherwise.
The key to becoming a good, de-
pendable, and a well-rounded aviator
is developing sound judgment and
maturity. Often younger aviators
need the mentorship from their own
ranks and usually from the older, ca-
reer-minded, WOs in their ranks who
had life's experiences to draw from.
The WO 1 may not always receive
that mentorship from senior war-
ran ts in the unit. To the detriment of
the branch, many units no longer
have senior warrants.
Ever wonder why Army Aviation
does not have a "tail hook conven-
tion" problem? Could it be because
older aviators sometimes help keep
younger aviators in check? An older
chief warrant officer 2 (CW2), who
happens to be a grandfather, does
not make for a good party animal.
Training assets easily can be
wasted on young adults whose in-
decision about Army careers or poor
judgment when driving under the
influence lead towards their fast
track to civilian life. Older warrants
are not immune from poor judgment,
but they generally have families and
have more to lose, which keeps them
from slipping into the Htailhook con-
vention" mode of thinking.
I, for one, am proud of our "long in
the tooth" aviators-those leading
our Aviation Branch and those who
led young warrants in the trenches
teaching them from years of experi-
ence in infantry and artillery about
tactics and fieldcraft. Where would
we be without them? There are many
"50-year old CW4 aviators" who
have died for our country. Has age
become so nocuous in our society
that we use it as a barrier to keep
servicemembers from serving their
country in a branch they are willing
to die for?
I am also proud for our young
aviators. We need the fresh perspec-
tive, experience, energy, and synergy
from both groups. However, to
establish a policy based on age,
which has not worked well for the
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
other branches of service, is bad
guidance. Every young adult whose
wayward, youthful folly cuts short a
promising career, and the Aviation
Branch loses one serious- minded,
mature, older adult focused on
choosing Anny Aviation as a ca-
reer-albeit somewhat later in his
life.
The Aviation Proponency Office
(APO) may elect to establish a policy
to reduce the aviation force of older
aviators to avoid the Selective Early
Retirement Boards and reductions in
force. If so, that should be so stated.
But APO should not imply that that
policy is established because older
guys Call1Ot "cut the mustard" in a
combat zone. There are maI1Y senior
WOs who would gladly aI1d proudly
step forward today to serve honor-
ably as attack helicopter teaIn lead-
ers in a combat zone.
CW3 Alfred L. Rice
1-223d Aviation Regiment
Aviation Training Brigade
Fort Rucker, Ala.
Opportunities are open in the
Mississippi Army National Guard
(ARNG) for pilots and support per-
sonnel because of reorganization
of the target acquisition and recon-
naissance company from OH-58A
and C to the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
The 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation, is
looking for all types of enl isted
aviation military occupational spe-
cialties as well as qualified OH-58D
pilots or pilots who would like to tran-
sition into the OH-58D.
The 1-185th Aviation is split with
units located in both Tupelo and Jack-
son, Miss. Both areas have excellent
junior colleges in the local area aI1d
major universities are just a short drive
from each location. Members of the
Mississippi ARNG are eligible for State
Educational Assistance as well as the
Montgomery GI Bill and the Student
Loan Repayment Program.
The economic picture in Missis-
sippi has been improving. The unem-
ployment rate is well below the na-
tionallevel and continues to improve.
You may be considering leaving
active duty in the near future, and
would like more information about
the opportunities the 1-185th Aviation
have to offer. If so, contact Captain
Kelly C. MacNealy atDSN 637-6185
or commercial 60 1-680-8309.
Just wondering if you could get an
official answer to the following ques-
tion:
Why are commanders making their
aviators and crew members wear cam-
ouflage face paint while performing
crew duties?
I don't think there is any real justi-
fication for wearing it. Why in the
world would someone put on a
Nomex tlight suit and gloves to
protect them from various fire haz-
ards and then put on flammable cam-
ouflage paint allover their face?
Curious!
When everything looks hopeless
and no one seems able to help, who are
you going to call?
I would suggest you try the pro-
gram integrator (PI) representative
(listed on the next page) at the De-
fense Plant Representative Office
(DPRO).
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
To help program managed systems,
especially acquisition category 1 pro-
grams, the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA) established the position of PIs.
Initially, the intent of the program was
to provide a focal point within the
DPRO for the Program Management
Office (PMO) and functional person-
nel to obtain assistance. However, it is
evol ving into a much larger support
program. The intent now is to provide
the program manager (PM), PMO,
and personnel in the functional direc-
torates a full-time "team" of repre-
sentatives (Progranl Support Tean1
(PST)) within the contractor's plant.
The PI and PST do more than just
aI1SWer questions, attend meetings, and
generally keep the PMO and functionals
infonned. Their mission includes all
the above plus running down spare
parts, assisting in tield maintenaI1Ce
problems, and just about anything else
our customers want. In addition, some
PMs have asked the PI and PST to
help with customers (Active, Reserve,
and National Guard units) in solving
their problems.
The PST, headed by the PI, is made
up of personnel from each of the major
disciplines found in a DPRO: engineer-
ing, quality, and contracting. These
personnel assist the PIs in their support
of the customers and their programs.
Each PST is tailored to tit the progranl
and its place in the acquisition life
cycle. For example, a program that is
early in development would have a
higher portion from engineering than
would one nearing the end of its useful
life. Also it can be further tailored to
meet the desires aI1d special needs of
the customer. In aU cases, the cus-
tomer is the PMO and lor functional
directorates at the buying command
and, as stated, Active, Reserve, and
National Guard units. In reality, the
customer that the PI deals with most
often is the PM and his PMO.
Each PI should be working at the
direction of his or her customer and
should be seeking out "hidden" prob-
lems and helping highlight them to the
5
CURRENT PIs
• Monitoring the contrac-
tor 's meetings on produc-
tion, suspenses, and reports.
PROGRAM (contractor)
APACHE
. AH-64A (MMDC)
• Foreign Military Sales
LONGBOW
• Apache (MMDC)
• 30mm Gun
• Fire Control Radar (MMAO)
COMANCHE
• RAH-66 (Joint)
• RAH-66 (Sikorsky)
• RAH-66 (Boeing)
SPECIAL OPERATIONS AIR-
CRAFT
• MH-47E (Boeing)
·MH-60K
• Aviation Avionics Subsystem (IBM
Federal Systems)
KIOWA WARRIOR
• OH-58D (Bell)
CREEK
• New Training Helicopter
• TH-67 (Bell)
BLACK HAWK
• UH-60 (Sikorsky)
CHINOOK
• CH-47D (Boeing)
contractor and the customer. Note
that I said to the contractor and the
customer. The PI team should not be
the PM's spy in the plant. They must
work with the contractor, gaining
his trust and confidence if they are
to truly be able to provide the
customer with timely and meaning-
ful infonnation. They can help the
contractor solve problems,. especially
ones caused by lack of conullunica-
tions wi th the buying command
and the PMO. Their close proxim-
ity to the contractor allows them to
develop a good sense of what is
happening in the plant and how the
contractor will react to problems.
The PI and/or the PST members
should be attending contractor
6
Name/Phone Number
Mr. DougGarm/602-891-3850
CPT(P) Chip Winn/602-891-3383
Mr. Ron Traejo/602-891-3079
Ms. Susan Burke/602-891-3009
Mr. Al Garcia/407-356-7427
MAl Loren Peele1203-386--3877
LtCdr Ed Bellini1203-386-4763
Mr. Randy Kiem1215-591-8622
Mr. Bob Kellliedy/215-591-8538
The PI must balance be-
tween DPRO DLA objec-
tives (e.g., doing the paper-
work, personnel actions,
etc.) and their customer's
objectives (e.g., delivering
aircraft, reporting problems,
doing engineering change
proposals, etc.). While these
activities are not mutually
exclusive, the priorities
sometime conflict. A PI iden-
tifies these conflicts and
works with his management
and the customer to prioritize
Lt Dave Morgerson (Navy)/203-386-7967
Mr. Cal Hobertl607-751-4386
team workload. This way, a PI
helps the PST and DPRO
management focus collective
attention on issues and con-
cerns of the customer. The PI
should develop a close rela-
tionship with his or her cus-
tomer and know his con-
cerns. Obviously, these con-
cerns may tluctuate and fre-
quent adjustments should be
made. Phone calls are a ne-
cessity (regularly made, even
when you have nothing spe-
cific to talk about), but noth-
MAJ John Quackenbush/817 -280-7500
MAJ John Quackenbush/817 -280-7 500
MW Carl Allen/203-386-7295
Mr. Don Tracy/215-591-8522
meetings, giving them more insight
into the contractor's management
techniques, and providing the op-
portunity to be a conduit for the
transfer of information, both good
and bad, between the customer and
the contractor's management team.
Some examples of the types of
things PIs are doing are-
• Assisting the PMO in tracking!
tracing of Government-furnished
equipment.
• Monitoring warranty claims.
• Submitting military standard
requisitioning and issue proce-
dures (MILSTRIP) requests and
controlling MILSTRIP funds.
• Coordinating corrective action
on quality deficiency reports.
ing beats a personal visit to a cus-
tomer on his turf. Attending progran1
management reviews, logistic program
progress reviews, integrated logistic
support management team meetings,
user conferences, etc., is a great way
for a PI and team members to meet and
get to know all elements of their cus-
tomer, especially the end users-sol-
diers, sailors, marines, or ainnen in the
field.
The PI has been in the field for over
2 years, and has made a significant
impact in the way most PMOs and
functional directorates view the DPRO.
It is the DPRO's intent to provide
better support to all our customers, not
just the PM and PMO. The PIs are
there for your use, try them and see
how they work out.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
,..
u.s. ARMY OPERATIONAL
CONCEPT FOR
AVIATION
·Our Mission Is WarflQhting-
Colonel Charles M. Burke
Deputy Assistant Commandant
U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Captain Donald C. Presgraves
Chief, Concepts Branch
Concepts and Studies Division
Directorate of Combat Developments
U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
7
T
he U.S. Army's Operational Concept for
Aviation describes the role of aviation in
war and operations other than war. The
concept begins with a redefinition of missions to be
performed now that aviation has passed another
milestone (aviation maneuver) in its evolution. It
discusses the application of the principles of aviation
employment in offensive and defensive operations,
then compares corps and divisional levels of opera-
tion. Finally, it describes a notional campaign show-
ing how aviation elements would be deployed into a
major regional contingency; how combat operations
would be conducted under a joint task force; and the
actions that must be taken to prepare for redeploy-
ment following the cessation of hostilities.
Evolution of Aviation Missions
Throughout much of its 50-year history, aviation
has been given the mission of supporting the opera-
tions of the ground commander (figure 1). Until
recently, the attack helicopter was viewed as support
for the infantry much in the same manner as tanks
were used in the early stages of their development.
Under AirLand Battle doctrine thinking began to
change. For the first time, combat aviation was
WW II Korea Vietnam
recognized as having the potential for actual maneu-
ver by air. That potential has now been realized.
The modern attack helicopter has proven in com-
bat that, using stealth and superior mobility as well as
shock effect, it can perform many of the same
missions of the tank. Although not a replacement for
the tank, as an air vehicle, the helicopter can over-
come some of the tank's limitations; i.e., gaining a
high degree of battlefield observation, avoiding vul-
nerability in close terrain, easily crossing terrain
obstacles such as rivers and swamps, and being able
to self-deploy.
Combat support aviation can now operate through-
out the depth of the battlefield to support maneuver
elements. The repositioning of dismounted infantry
and artillery, provision of forward command and
control (C
2
) platforms, operation of intelligence and
electronic warfare (lEW) aircraft, battlefield move-
ment of personnel and materiel, and evacuation of
casualties from forward areas are all missions that
have been enhanced through modernized aircraft and
a more offensive- minded doctrine.
Continued evolution of the doctrine places more
emphasis on the role of aviation forces in early entry
of the Force Projection Army (figure 2). During a
Desert
Storm
1972 • Concept of
Attack Helo
Demonstrated In
8
1950· Use of Helo for
CargolMEDEVAC
1940's
1950's
Combat
1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's
Figure 1. Evolution of Aviation Missions
Reconnaissance
and Security
Attack
Air Assault
Air Combat
Special Operations
Command & Control
Air Movement
Intelligence &
Electronic Warfare
Aeromedical
Evacuation
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
• More Efficient
Use of Strategic
Mobility
• Rapid Deployability Strengthens
Early Entry Forces
• Decisive
Potential in Early
Entry of Force
Projection Army
• Superior Maneuver Capability Complements
Effectiveness of Mechanized Forces
• Added Dimension
on Battlefield
Steahh
Mobility
••••••••
. ),. " . ' . '._'"
... ...
- "
Firepower
"'-''''.(''., .01''", .:••" •. '< . . ...... ,. .• .. ::
Shock Action {;
. ,:._ ..... ::.':t .. ...:: ..
Figure 2. Decisive Potential for Force Projection
strategic deployment to an actual or potential regional
conflict, self- deployment or early strategic air and/or
sea lift of aviation forces could be decisive. Having
the means for day/night and adverse weather recon-
naissance and security at some distance from a lodge-
ment area is crucial in the early days of the conflict.
Attack helicopter forces, ready to fight early, may
give pause to a potential aggressor and thus provide
more time to deploy forces. In case of open hostilities,
attack aviation assets available in the theater early will
provide the commander one of his most lethal, flex-
ible, and versatile means of destroying enemy forces.
Self- deployed or airlifted combat aviation forces are
a decisive means of holding off strong attacking
forces until strategic deployment of heavy ground
formations can be executed.
General Principles for Aviation
General principles for aviation provide the founda-
tion upon which the Army's Operational Concept for
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Aviation Maneuver-to place the
enemy in a position of disadvan-
tage through the flexible applica-
tion of combat power in the third
dimension.
Aviation rests. These principles derive from the
Principles of War and the tenets of Army operations.
While aviation forces break friction with the ground,
they operate in the ground regime. They are manned
systems, operating as units, employed as combined
arms, and using the terrain in the same fashion as
ground units. Although they offer some unique ad-
vantages to the commander-the ability to fight from
the swamps, the tops of the forests, and the sides of
the mountains -they are subjected to the same dy-
9
AVIATION ... THE THIRD DIMENSION
Figure 3. Decisive Combat Power
namics of the battlefield and the same physics of land
warfare as ground combat units.
Aviation maneuver leverages these unique advan-
tages to the benefit of the ground commander. Syn-
chronizing aviation maneuver with ground maneuver
by enhancing reconnaissance, providing security, and
conducting attacks and counterattacks allows the
friendly force commander to increase the tempo of his
ground operations, and to achieve a positional advan-
tage in both time and space over his enemy (figure 3).
Linked with deep fires, aviation maneuver offers the
ground commander the capability to influence events
throughout his area of operations. Only the U.S.
Army currently possesses the capability to do this.
The principles are as follows:
• A viation operates in the ground environment, not tlle
aerospace environment. This cardinal principle defines
aviation's role as an element of landpower. Aviation
is a component of the combined arms team, not the
air component of the U.S. Army. Aviation's primary
mission is to fight the land battle, secondarily to
support ground operations. Aviation is comprised of
soldiers, not airmen, and its battlefield leverage is
achieved through a combination of observation, mo-
bility, and firepower that is unprecedented in land
warfare. Aviation greatly multiplies the commander's
10
ability to apply four fundamental Principles of War:
Maneuver, Mass, Surprise, and Economy of Force.
• Aviation expands the battlefield in space, time, and
echelon. Expansion of the battlefield is necessary to
enable the commander to seize the initiative at a
critical point in the battle. Aviation expands the
ground commander's battlefield in three dimensions-
principally, in space and time by extending the range
at which direct fires and observed fires can be con-
centrated on the enemy and by expanding his recon-
naissance and surveillance envelope beyond the ef-
fective range of other systems. Aviation expands
battle space at each echelon to which it is assigned or
attached, providing a capability where none exists or
adding to capabilities extant.
• A viation performs combat and combat support batik-
field functions. Aviation's greatest contribution to
battlefield success is the ability it gives the com-
mander to apply decisive combat power at critical
times, anywhere on the battlefield. This may be direct
fire from aviation maneuver units or the insertion of
overwhelming infantry fires, delivered into combat
by air assaul t.
Combat support missions are directed toward sup-
port of ground combat operations. This includes air
movement and aeromedical evacuation, whose pri-
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
mary function is support of combat elements in
contact with the enemy. Aviation does not perform
combat service support battlfield functions except for
those designated aviation logistics elements respon-
sible for the maintenance and supply of aviation
combat and combat support units.
• The role of combat avilltion is to locate and destroy
enemy ground forces and support elements. Aviation
combines the four elements of combat power-ma-
neuver, firepower, protection, and leadership. Com-
bat aviation (cavalry, attack, and air assault) com-
bines maneuver and firepower at a rapid tempo and
over great distances. Together with armor and infan-
try, combat aviation forms the nucleus of the Army's
maneuver forces whose mission is to close with and
destroy the enemy. All of the elements of combat
power must be applied within the context of com-
bined arms operations.
• Combat aviation is concentrated at division level.
Combined arms battles and engagements are fought
by brigades and divisions. Division is the lowest level
at which all of the combined arms are normally
integrated. The combination of infantry, armor, and
combat aviation is an habitual association at the
division level. All three arms are required for deep,
close, and rear operations throughout the course of
battle. Therefore, combat aviation must be primarily
assigned to and employed by divisional aviation bri-
gades, just as infantry and armor battalions are
assigned and employed by their parent brigades.
Aviation fights as units and must be given unit mis-
sions. In like manner, aviation units conducting avia-
tion maneuver operations are given maneuver objec-
tives rather than individual targets.
• Combataviation is primarily employed against deep
targets and on flanks, secondarily in support of ground
maneuver elements in the close fight. The mobility and
firepower of attack helicopters are most effective
when concentrated against enemy flanks or against
armor and artillery moving in the area beyond the
forward line of own troops (FLOT). When coordi-
nated with direct and indirect fires at the FLOT,
surprise and disruption of all enemy forces will be
greatest. When combat aviation is fighting in conjunc-
tion with ground maneuver elements in the close
battle, attack helicopters will minimize vulnerability
and exploit the effect of surprise by operating on
different axes and from different battle positions than
infantry and armor.
• Combat aviation will be supported by all of the
battlefield operating systems (BOSs). As one of the
division and corps commander's primary maneuver
elements, combat aviation, like infantry and armor,
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
will be supported by the other BOSs. Systems such as
air defense, fire support, intelligence, and engineer
are essential and must be synchronized early in the
planning process.
• Combat support avilltion is primarily concentrated at
corps and employed at both the corps and division levels.
Besides corps attack and cavalry units, general sup-
port, medium lift, and special purpose aviation units,
which are not required routinely for division opera-
tions, will be primarily assigned to corps aviation
groups. They will be used for corps missions or
allocated to divisions when required.
• A viation units are integrated into the combined arms
down to the level at which they will be employed.
Aviation units cannot be effectively employed if they
are plugged into brigade or battalion operations on a
task-order basis. This creates less than optimum
results. The division aviation brigade is the primary
level of integration, and the brigade commander is
responsible for the operation of all divisional aviation.
He will normally command and integrate reinforcing
aviation units from corps. When aviation units are
placed under operational control of the other bri-
gades, they will normally be "for a mission basis"
and a liaison detachment should be placed at the
ground brigade command post to advise on aviation
employment.
• Planning times for aviation and ground maneuver
elements will be the same. Aviation units conduct
deliberate planning within the same time parameters
as the other maneuver elements. Airspace coordina-
tion, route clearances, and weather updates compli-
cate the task for aviation staffs, but for effective
combat operations, the standard is the same.
Combat and Combat Support Missions
A viation Combat Missions. These missions are con-
ducted by maneuver forces engaged in destroying
enemy forces by direct fire and standoff precision
weapons in combined arms operations as follows:
• Reconnaissance and security. The corps armored
cavalry regiment and the division cavalry squadron
are primarily responsible for this mission, using their
organic air cavalry units. Additional ground and at-
tack helicopter units may be attached if needed for
deep reconnaissance or guard missions. For early
entry forces in contingency operations, air cavalry is
the most effective element to conduct the reconnais-
sance and security mission. Counter-reconnaissance
on flanks and in rear areas is part of this mission.
• Attack. The primary purpose of attack operations
is the destruction of enemy armored and artillery
units. Attack helicopter assets are decentralized to
11
divisions to the greatest possible extent. Attack units can
conduct deep, independent operations or can be used in
conjooction with groood maneuver ooits in the close battle.
Attack ooits are most effective when used in mass in
continuous operations on the enemy's flanks and rear. Night
operations will be the rule. Corps attack battalions can be
used independently by the corps commander or placed
Wlder operational control of divisions.
- Air assault. Air assault is a form of maneuver and is,
therefore. a combat mission. It is defined as the movement
of friendly forces by helicopter over enemy territory when
either the pickup zone (PZ) or the landing zone (LZ) is
insecure or only lightly secured. It is an important maneuver
element in both heavy and light divisions. In contingency
operations, air assaults c;an assist heavy forces in overcom-
ing obstacles, in the seizure of critical terrain and in follow
and support missions to preserve the momentwn of attack.
For I ight forces, air assault is the primary means of rapid
maneuver. In some situations it can be the means of
deployment directly into combat. Air assault security is
provided by air cavalry and attack Wlits employing both
firepower and electronic jammers in coordination with
conventional fire support suppression.
-A ir combat. Modem attack hel icopters are plentiful and
several potential regional adversaries are known to possess
them. However, the threat of U.S. airpower and the
enornlOUS training and sustairunent cost of these helicopters
are likely to limit their battlefield effectiveness by threat
forces. Nonetheless, U.S. armed reconnaissance and attack
helicopters must be prepared to encoWlter and destroy
threat attack or support helicopters during operations. Air
combat is an integral part of the force commander's scheme
of maneuver and may be controlled by either the aviation
or ground maneuver force commander. Although it is a self-
defense mission, air combat can occur during both offensive
and defensive operations. Air combat is inherent in aviation's
maneuver role in the reconnaissance and security, attack,
and air assault missions and must be linked to the aviation
C2 system. Air cavalry and attack helicopter Wlits will be
assisted by other elements of the combined amlS in the
destruction of enemy helicopters.
Combat Support Missions. Aviation combat support is
the operational support and sustainment provided to combat
forces by aviation Wlits as follows:
- Command and control. All arms and Services have an
internal C
2
responsibility and aviation is no exception.
Aviation also has an external C
2
responsibility to provide
highly mobile airborne command posts to commanders at
the brigade, division, corps, and echelons above corps
levels. The communications suites in the C
2
aircraft must be
compatible with the assigned command post mission.
- Air movement. Air movement is the transrx>rt of combat,
combat support, and sustainment assets throughout the
12
battlespace. Air movement differs from air assault, which
is a maneuver operation. In air movements, aviation usuall y
is not task organized with other combined amlS forces to
engage enemy forces. This mission involves the movement
of critical materiel, troops, and services into forward areas
when time is short or ground lines of communications are
interdicted or congested. Air movement is a relatively
inefficient means to transport heavy supplies and equip-
ment. Its use should be reserved to support major operations
in which air movement is essential for success.
-Intelligence and electronic warfare. lEW aircraft are
organic at corps and di vision levels but recei ve their mission
taskings from the G-2, not the aviation commander. Un-
manned aerial vehicles may be assigned to aviation units
but may also get their mission taskings from an external
source. For both operational and safety reasons, both
manned and unmanned aerial lEW platfonns must operate
within the A2C2 system.
-Aeromedical evacuation. In a Force Projection Army
that is expected to win wars with minimum casualties, rapid
aeromedical evacuation takes on increased importance.
Expanded battle space will require more reliance on air
evacuation than surface means. Combat Search and Rescue
(CSAR) is an integral mission that will be performed by medical
evacuation (MEDEV AC) assets. Like lEW, MEDEV AC is
controlled operationally by an external authority. In this
case, MEDEV AC is controlled by the evacuation battalion
assigned to the medical brigade in the corps support
command. The mission of the air ambulance company is to
evacuate wounded soldiers from as far forward as possible
to proper medical treatment facilities. MEDEVAC aircraft
entering and transiting forward areas must operate within
the A 2C2 system.
Operations
The primary focus of aviation is combat. Seldom, if ever,
will military operations be conducted by a single Service.
The Anny will act as part of a joint or combined force in
future operations. Complementary contributions of every
component add to the effectiveness of the Total Force.
Aviation possesses inherent characteristics which guarantee
that it will play a significant, if not unique, role in all
operations across the range of mili tary operations. Properl y
planned and executed, operations by aviation elements can
be decisive at the tactical level and may make highly
important or even decisive contributions to opera-
tional level success. For example, aviation can be
critical to success in a drug interdiction mission.
Simultaneously, on another battlefield, aviation forces
can deliver a decisive stroke in a deep operational
level maneuver in a limited war confrontation.
Aviation maneuvers rapidly in the third dimension
of air space to bring decisive combat power to bear at
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
. :;:;;- .. -.. .
~
. - ..
\\ ..... ", -------._-
" - ~
.. - - . ~ ; ~ : : , , , " , ~ ..." / '.
Figure 4. Expanded Battle Space
the critical point and time on the battlefield. This
capability expands the battlefield and reduces the time
needed to move decisively against enemy forces
(figure 4). A specific aviation unit could be found
performing in deep, close, and rear operations on the
same day on the modern battlefield. Thus, it is
recognized that aviation's ability to operate in all
dimensions of the battle space provides a degree of
flexibility and agility that is not only unique, but brings
maneuver warfare to a pinnacle of battle domi-
nance.
Capabilities for the Future
No longer can military operations be viewed in some
chronological fashion. The winners of the future will be
adaptive and adept in a world of increasing change and the
tempo at which change occurs. Aviation is becoming the
preeminent force on the battlefield. As in Operation Desert
Storm, the first weapons fired in the next crisis will probably
come from aviation, whether from land, sea, or self-
deployed forced entry.
The key to maintaining the edge in a downsized military
will come from technology and streamlined fielding of
materiel. Information technology, precision operational
u. S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
capability, and innovative training are the avenues to
continued land force dominance.
Battlefield digitization will allow commanders and opera-
tors of sophisticated systems to collect, understand, and
disseminate battlefield information and intelligence on a
global scale. Advanced sensors, linked to shooters, will
facilitate precision strikes against short dwell targets and
centers of gravity while providing immediate battle damage
assessment.
Distributed seamless simulations will create realistic
synthetic battlefields networking simulators, workstations,
and instrumented combat vehicles on ranges and at training
centers across the globe. Maintenance and logistics support-
ability will be designed into materiel to reduce logistic tails
and support extendedoperations in austere environments.
Interoperability among Services and with coalition
partners will demand flexibility from avionics, to weapons,
to munition compatibilities. Future aviatioosystemswill have
multifunction glass cockpits, automated crew functions,
enhanced situational awareness, integrated survivability
suites, and on and on. All of these capabilities, and many
more yet to be defined, signal a clear message, today' s
warrior must have his or her sights "locked-on" to the
future. Above The Best! y
13
,...
AVIATION RESTRUCTURE
INITIATIVE-
The Way to the Future
Lieutenant Colonel Rick Scales
Aviation Restructure Initiative Team Chief
Directorate of Combat Developments
U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
T
he modernization chal-
lenge of configuring the
future Anny to the Na-
tion 's strategic interests is a signifi-
cant task. The geopolitical situation
has changed dramatically in the
past 3 1/2 years, and the specter of
global nuclear holocaust is now
fading. Our Army is already evolv-
ing in both size and complexion to
meet the strategic demands of the
emerging new world order. Even
with all the dynamics of modern-
ization there remains one con-
stant-when the Anned Forces are
called upon, they must be prepared
to win quickly and decisively with
minimum loss of lives.
Our national strategy and objec-
ti ves mandate a global capability for
rapid response to regional crises and
the projection of national power with
forces based primarily in the United
States. The Anny, in tum, must be
ready to meet military challenges
from a number of potential adversar-
ies who have locally diverse and
worldwide aims and interests. The
complex and uncertain array of poten-
tial conflicts argues against large, rig-
idly structured, strategically unwieldy
military fonnations. The forward de-
ployment of large, heavy forces
14
~ .
poised for primarily large-scale con- tjattlefleld but must, instead, in-
ventional warfare against pre-deter- vest in high technology forces that
mined threats is no longer a reality or can respond rapidly and have the
a necessity. capability to mass fires in a timely
The Army is preparing to meet the manner.
adversaries of tomorrow by develop- Aviation has met the challenge of
ing forces that can be tailored and the new world order and is restructur-
targeted quickly for specific re- ing its forces. Last year, Aviation be-
sponses to a regional crises. In addi- gan a concerted effort to correct long-
tion, the Anny must be capable of standingdeficienciesanddesignaforce
responding to a variety of military that could rapidly respond to our na-
operations other than war. Aviation is tional military strategy. The goals of
particularly well suited for these type the redesign effort were to-
operations. A flexible, focused re- • Fix Anny of Excellence (AOE)
sponse dictates an Army composed deficiencies.
of soldiers and equipment that are • Reduce logistics requirements.
equally flexible and capable of quick, • Drive down costs.
effective reaction to protect the • Retire old aircraft.
Nation's global interests. Our recent • Stay within the resource "box."
operations in Grenada, Panama, As we began the redesign process,
Desert Stonn, and Somalia demon- it was important to understand the
strate aviation forces provide unique evolution of the aviation force struc-
capabilities in an environment where ture over the past 15 to 20 years (figure
rapid response, flexibility, mobility, 1). In 1975, the Aviation Require-
and fire power are essential. ments to support the Combat Struc-
Fiscal realities remain a challenge. ture of the Anny (ARCSA) study III
The Army in 1996 will be nearly a third initiated the consolidation of aviation
smaller than the Anny of 1991, and within the division into units that
force modernization must resolve the would provide the necessary com-
dichotomy of a peacetime economy mand and control (C2) to realize the full
versus warfighting return on invest- potential of Aviation. However, these
ment. We can no longer afford to units proved to be too large and diffi-
invest in large forces that mass on the cult to control.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
In the early 1980s. the Division 86
redesign effort provided additional
C2 and leadership with the fielding of
the Aviation Brigade. For the first time.
Aviation was provided organizations
and force structure equal to that of
other members of the combined arms
team. Although the Division 86
organizations possessed superior
warfighting capability. this force
structure was deemed unaffordable.
During the mid 1980s. under the
AOE, existing force structure was
decrement in a "salami slice" fashion
to provide for the addition of four
Army divisions. The continued use of
the "salami slice" approach finally
rendered aviation forces too aus-
tere to support and maintain them-
selves and put at risk our ability to
accomplish the mission. Since 1988.
several initiatives (Aviation System
Program Review (ASPR), Total Anny
Analysis (TAA), ARCSA y, and Les-
sons Learned from Operation Desert
Stonn) were started to help alleviate
1824 PERS
132 ACFT
existing deficiencies. However. none
were adopted.
The first step in our analysis was
to examine AOE aviation with an eye
toward fixing that structure. Existing
personnel deficiencies within AOE
organizations required our immediate
attention. These deficiencies were
grouped into two categories:
warfighting and logistics (figure 2).
Twenty percent of the AOE deficien-
cies were focused in warfighting while
80 percent were directed towards lo-
gistics. Within the warfighting area,
emphasis was placed on providing for
24-hour operations, enhancing C
2
,
improving aviation life support equip-
ment (ALSE), and increasing readi-
ness. In addition, a general support
aviation battalion (GSAB) was de-
signed for the heavy division. In the
logistics area, our focus concentrated
on ensuring each unit was staffed at
100-percent Manpower Require-
ments Criteria (MARC) and had ad-
equate Class IIIN capability. Finally,
each heavy division was provided a
division aviation support battalion
(DASB). These initiatives would
have corrected existing deficien-
cies at a cost of about 8,400 per-
sonnel spaces (figure 3). Providing
these spaces to aviation would have
offered a solution to existing short-
falls; however, our guidance was
to fix Aviation deficiencies within
our own resources.
The direction was now clear.
Since we could not increase person-
nel, we must eliminate some of the
equipment they operate and maintain
to correct personnel shortfalls. Our
method was to identify aviation sys-
tems that contributed little or noth-
ing to warfighting and reduce or
eliminate them within the tables of
organization and equipment (TOEs).
This would free up personnel spaces
that then could be converted to
correct known cri tical personnel
shortfalls described above. The Avia-
tion Restructure Initiative (ARI) strat-
75ARCSA III
2143 PERS
168ACFT
985 ARMY OF EXCELLENC
1241 PERS
73ACFT
loosl

11990 ASPRI
ITAA991
1430 Pers
125ACFT

Figure 1. Evolution of the aviation force structure lineage over the past 15 to 20 years
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993 15
16
~
CLASS m I V (FARP OPNS)
..
-
WHEELEDVEH
MAINTENANCE
DIVAVN
SPTBN
Figure 2. Two categories of deficiencies within AOE were warfighting and logistics.
DEFICIENCY
COMPO COMPO COMPO
TOTAL
1 2 3
HQ SUSTAINMENT
634 454 93 1181
AVN UNIT MAINT
1101 761 181 2043
CLASS III 722 425 156 1303
CLASS V
81 38 4 123
DASB
592 490 0 1082
C2 PILOTS (AH-1)
21 33 0 54
AVN INTERMED MAINT
946 548 33 1527
ASST CREW CHIEF
322 350 195 867
DUAL PILOTS (OH-58)
-12 0 0 -12
AUTO MAINT
41 22 18 81
ALSE EQUIP
67 40 10 117
TOTAL 4515 3161 690 8366
Figure 3. Existing deficiencies in AOE personnel spaces
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
egy was developed with the primary
purpose of correcting known
warfighting deficiencies. One of
the major study objectives was to
build a fightable aviation force that
will remain capable as we continue
to downsize our Anned Forces. Ini-
tially, the ARI base was defined by the
T AA 99 force and revised by the T AA
01 force. It will again be revised as a
result of the Secretary of Defense
bottom-up review. The bottom line is
each aviation unit remaining in the
force will be fully capable of conduct-
ing its warfighting mission.
CONSULTATIONS
DOCTRINE
DRAFT FM 100-5
REGULATIONS
LESSONS LEARNED
STANDARDIZATION
MODERNIZATION
-24 HROPS
-CMDAVNBN
-C2
_ READINESS
LOGISTICS
-MARC
-DASB
-CLII!N
The ARI methodology concen-
trates on both warfighting and
operations other than war (figure
4). It is important to note one of the
major efforts within the study was
to take a detailed introspective look
within Aviation and identify those
warfighting systems that did not
support our mission. In all, over
1,200 aircraft were identified for
retirement as old and tactically
obsolete. Additional efficiencies were
identified when units were equipped
with only one type of aircraft. As a
Figure 4. ARI's methodology focuses on warfighting and
nonwarfighting operations.
result and in concert wi th our
warfighting mission, units were re-
structured around one type of air-
craft (i.e., the AH-64 Apache at-
tack battalion). With the redesign
of homogeneous units, the aviation
- t v ~
• SAFETY UPGRADES
• MA 1l!RJEL CIIANGES
IMPROVE )t I , ~ ~ .1_."
'11;C1!NOUJ<lY,NSERTION }<. ::
Figure 5. The four principals 0 t e aViation mo ernlzatlon
strategy plan
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
brigade commander assumes
greater responsi bi I i ty as a resource
provider. During the planning
phase, he must task organize the
force to support both warfighting
and operations other than war.
The ARI continues to build on
the Army Modernization Plan de-
veloped last year. The Aviation
Modernization strategy capitalizes
on four principles: sustaining what
works, leveraging technology to
improve capability, procuring ca-
pability in response to a vital need,
and retiring all old and tactically
obsolete warfighting systems (fig-
ure 5). ARI embraced these prin-
ciples.
On 3 February 1993, the Army
Chief of Staff approved the ARI.
Plans are now being developed at
the Aviation Warfighting Center to
implement the program of chang-
ing to ARI units beginning in J anu-
ary 1994. Aviation has met the
challenge of a changing world by
developing a structure that will
remain rapidly responsive to the
needs of our Nation. Above The
Best! ...
17
Future of the Army's
COCKPIT CRASH PROTECTION
Kent F. Smith
Aerospace Engineer
Aviation Applied Technology Directorate
U.S. Army Aviation and Troop Command
Fort Eustis, Virginia
The Problem
The AH-l Cobra's engine fail-
ure occurred at 700 feet above
ground level (AGL) over
wooded terrain.
The only suitable clearing was
some distance away and 30 de-
grees to the right of the initial
heading. The pilot es-
tablished the autorota-
tion and realized he
would have to stretch
his glide a bi t to reach
the clearing, so he did
so and began the final
flare.
Too Ii ttle energy re-
mained in the main ro-
tor system to com-
pletely arrest the sink
speed. The Cobra hit
hard with just enough
energy to collapse the skids. The
pilot is out quickly with minor
injuries. The copilot/gunner is a
fatality.
Why?
18
The above story is hypotheti-
cal, but based on actual crash
data. The answer to the ques-
tion: There are many reasons
since helicopter crash dynamics
are fairly chaotic and unpredict-
able.
However, two themes repeat
themselves. They are-
. The occupant was crushed by
localized intrusion of the heli-
copter structure.
. The occupant's head or upper
torso con tacted rigid cockpi t
structure (the secondary impact).
In the Army's newer helicop-
ters, good crashworthy design
criteria exist to prevent the
first cause (Reference 1).
Cockpits are designed to resist
a 4-G (unit of acceleration)
rollover load, with all
the load supported by
the forward 25 percent
of the inverted fuse-
lage. Other criteria pre-
vent cockpit crushing
due to direct crash im-
pact from all direc-
tions.
The second cause,
however, is far more
challengi ng since it
usually involves how
the aviator uses his re-
straint harness, how he was
prepositioned at crash impact,
and whether his inertia reel locked
properly.
Introduction of crashworthy
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
TABLE I
MECHANISMS OF INJURY IDENTIFIED IN
SURVIVABLE CLASS A AND B MISHAPS
STRUCK BY/AGAINST
INT OBJ/STRUCT 128
SEAT ISEAT ARMOR 35
CYCLIC 17
EXTERNAL OBJECTI 31
INTRUDING OBJECT
CONSOLE 10
INSTR PANEL 9
CEILING 4
DOOR 9
WINDSHIELD 8
LITTER 4
COLLECTIVE 6
FLOOR 6
RESTRAINT 26
UNKNOWN 37
OTHER
HELMET
(stroking) crewseats has already
reduced the incidence of spinal
injuries due to the rapid onset of
accel era tio ns in high -energy
crashes.
Table 1, Reference 2, identi-
fies the injury mechanisms
based on a survey of Army
helicopter mishaps between
1979 and 1985.
The tabl e indicates that the
number of occupant-structure
contact injuries exceeded ac-
celerative injuries by a ratio
of about five to one.
The Approach
The Aviation Applied Tech-
nology Directorate (AATD),
U.S. Army Aviation and Troop
Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is
currently performing research
to reduce the likelihood that
aviators will be seriously injured
8
7
345 CAUGHT IN OR UNDBR 33
AIRCRAFT 15
INSTR PANEL 4
RESTRAINT SYSTEM 7
OTHER 7
BXPBRIENCBD/.XPOSBD TO 117
EXCESS DECEL FORCES 71
MUL TIPLE MECHANISMS 24
FIRE
OTHER
THROWN FROII
UNKNOWN
TOTAL
by cockpit strikes.
The goal is not merely to im-
prove cockpits of future helicop-
ters, but to develop systems
with retrofit potential.
Since most serious cockpit
strike problems involve the more
confined cockpits, solutions ap-
plicable to attack cockpits are
being pursued first.
Some solutions being explored
4
18
AIRCRAFT 21
58
574
concentrate on reducing the
aviator's head and upper torso
flailing motion in the event of a
crash.
Most rotorcraft accidents in-
volve impacts where yaw angle
at impact is a factor.
Therefore, solutions that
only reduce forward flailing
without reducing lateral flail-
ing do not address the total
problem.
Better Restraint
One effort, "Army Cockpit
Delethalization," completed
this year, has produced a
reconfigura tion of the con-
ventional 5-point restraint
now used in aircraft such as the
UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-
64 Apache.
Called the Trans Torsal
Restraint Harness (TTRH), the
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
19
- f!
UPPER RESTRAINT LOADS (existing)
y
LOWER RESTRAINT LOADS (both)
]fi gJ
UPPER RESTRAINT LOADS (TTRH)
36 L!S
EXTENDED
SPRING
TRIGGER
("G" SEHSORl
1.50 STROKE
1li1\}
ROLLER
v---r--- CA/'I RELEASE
STRAP
LEFT UPPER RESTRAINT (TTRH) RIGHT UPPER RESTRAINT
Figure 1. Trans Torsal Restraint
Harness (TTRH) Geometry
Figure 2. Automatic Strap Retractor
Tensioner (ASRT) Device
new configuration (figure 1)
uses the existing inertia reel
strap with a new collar assem-
bly, through which pass left and
right harness straps.
The left harness strap is an-
chored to the existing left lap
belt attachmentpointon the seat.
From the anchor, a fixed strap
section connected to an adjuster
and an adjustable strap proceed
up the left side of the torso. Here,
it passes over the left shoulder,
through the collar assembly, be-
hind the neck, and over the right
shoulder.
The strap terminates at the
right-side quick release lug on
the rotary buckle. The right har-
ness strap is a reflection of the
left.
Improved lateral restraint
comes from the fact tha t any
la teral movement places one
shoulder harness in direct
tension, loading the seat at the
20
lap belt connection.
Another product from this pro-
gram is an Automatic Strap Re-
tractor/Tensioner (ASRT). The
ASRT is designed to pretension
the inertia reel strap during the
crash sequence. The reason is
to reduce or eliminate any spool-
out of webbing from the inertia
reel before its locking.
This would, in turn, decrease
the body motion and head flail
distance in all directions.
The ASRT (figure 2) is a
mechanical device attached to
the seat back through which the
inertia reel webbing passes.
The ASRT is activated me-
chanically by crash G-forces
before the aviator's inertia loads
the shoulder harness.
It retracts up to 6 inches
of slack from the shoulder
harness strap and then two
wedges lock about the web-
bing, "grabbing" the strap and
holding it in that position.
Dynamic impact tests, using a
test sled, were performed with
a 95th percentile dummy and
AH-64 stroking crewseat in a
cockpit mockup (figure 3).
A 40-percen t red uction in
overall head displacement was
achieved using the TTRH and
ASRT as compared to the
standard AH-64 restraint (Ref-
erence 3).
The tests were conducted us-
ing impact severities as high as
35 G and velocity changes of 41
feet/second (ft/sec).
Conflicting
Requirements
One problem that has
emerged is the conflicting re-
quirements to better restrain
the Army aviator in crashes
wi thout interfering with his
freedom of movement within
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
the cockpit during flight.
This could be especially criti-
cal during air-to-air combat
when the aviator may have to
use quick movements to "check
six" for self-preserva tion.
What is a potential solution to
this si tua tion?
Draw from the advances in
automotive safety to design a
cockpit air bag system, acti-
vated during the crash sequence
by a remote crash sensor.
This would allow the aviator
the best of both worlds: nec-
essary in-flight freedom of
movement and having a supe-
rior cockpit restraint system
just when he really needs it!
Air Bags
In 1988, AATD began research
on the feasibility of cockpit air
bags for Army attack helicop-
ter cockpits.
In 1989, a Phase I Small Busi-
ness Innovation Research
(SBIR) contract was awarded
to Simula, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.
The job was to assess, through
computer studies, the many
variables, such as air bag infla-
tion and deflation rates; bag
loca tion and geometry; and in-
teraction of bags with an oc-
cupant in a stroking seat.
Several designs were concep-
tualized and hardware avail-
ability was confirmed.
During October-November
1989, the U.S. Army Aeromedi-
cal Research Labora tory, Ft.
Rucker, Ala., supplemented this
effort.
This lab used a demonstration
test series of dynamic impacts
using Honda automotive air bags
and crash sensors in AH-1 and
AH-64 cockpit mockups (Refer-
ence 4).
These tests were limited to
the use of a single forward air
bag mounted to protect the
Figure 3. Naval Air Warlare Center Horizontal Accelerator
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
21
Figure 4. Air bag application to attack helicopter cockpit
occupant from impacting the
Telescopic Sighting Unit (TSU)
on the AH-l or the Optical
Relay Tube (ORT) on the AH-
64. Results were encouraging.
In December 1991, AA TD ini-
tiated a Phase II SBIR contract
effort with Simula, Inc., to de-
sign, develop, and test an attack
helicopter air bag system.
Some of the designs to be
considered (figure 4) use three
bags per cockpit, all inflating
simultaneously, giving the avia-
tor instant protection against
both forward and lateral crash
loads.
An early question to be an-
swered in this program was, if
the air bag system inadvert-
ently deployed in flight, would
this impair the pilot'S ability
to fly the aircraft?
This question demanded an
22
answer early in the program.
A series of 12 "in-flight"
deployments of a three-bag cock-
pit was conducted in the copilot/
gunner module of an AH-64
Combat Mission Simulator
(flight simulator).
At the same time, Armyavia-
tors were flying realistic, simu-
lated missions with varying mis-
sion profiles.
These profiles included nap-
of-the-earth (NOE) flight with
obstacles as well as sudden,
"quick-stop" maneuvers.
The aircraft was nose-high,
giving the pilot no terrain ref-
erence when the bags were de-
ployed.
Four different pilots were used
as test subjects, each flying
three simulated missions with
bag deployments occurring (with-
out his knowledge of when).
The results were better than
expected (Reference 5).
No aviators ever lost control,
or even came close to losing
control of the aircraft.
In some of the deployments, a
slight heading deviation was
noted, but adverse effects on
aircraft control did not occur.
The pilots consistently described
the bag deployments as a
"nonevent."
Figure 5 is a photo of the
deflated bags in the post-
deployed position. Dynamic im-
pact tests of an attack helicop-
ter cockpit mockup with a tai-
lored air bag system are
scheduled in the near future.
Results are expected to yield
similar dramatic reductions in
head/upper torso injury prob-
ability as those shown in auto-
motive air bag testing.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Figure 5. Deflated bags in the post-deployed position
Conclusion
It is becoming evident the
U.S. Army may again be poised
on the brink of applying a new
life-saving technology.
Just as the crashworthy fuel
system of the early 1970s and
energy-absorbing seats of the
late 1970s led to dramatic
reductions in aviator fatalities
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
and injuries, cockpit air bags
could hold the key to the
future augmentation of Army
Aviation crash survival.
23
Field Training Exercise:
THE 160TH
SOAR(A) SETS
ROTARY-WING
ENDURANCE
RECORD
Captain Michael J. York
2-160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
On 16 December 1992, the 2-160th SOAR (A) with the
MH-47D Chinook (right photo) set an Army record for a
continuous, nonstop rotary-wing flight.
The 2-l60th SOAR(A) com-
pleted a l4.2-hour (hr), C630-nau-
tical mile (run), nonstop deploy-
ment from Puerto Rico to Cam pbell
Army Airfield,FortCampbell,Ky.,
as the culminating phase to a field
training exercise.
The flight included 10.2 hrs and
two in-flight refuelings using night
vision goggles. This article out-
lines the plarming, preparation, and
execution of this deployment.
A nonstop, rotary-wing deploy-
ment of this distance requires an
enonnous amount of planning and
preparation. Furthermore, execu-
tion requires highly skilled, experi-
enced aircrews.
Planners must consider routes,
fuel, weather, diplomatic clearances,
crew scheduling, rest cycles, and en
route contingencies for starters.
Leaders ensure aircrews are trained
and helicopters are equipped and
properly maintained for such a long-
range deployment. Finally, aircrews
must skillfully and precisely execute
the deployment according to the plan.
The 2d Battalion, located at Fort
Campbell, is staffed with highly
skilled, experienced planners and
aircrews.
Several years ago, the U.S. Army
Special Operations Command, Fort
Bragg, N.C., modified the MH-47D
Chinook aircraft with an aerial refuel
capability and compatible communi-
cations/navigation equipment.
These modifications were neces-
sary to conduct the l5-hr, 1,630 run
nonstop, overwater deployment
from Puerto Rico to Fort Campbell.
Armed with these resources, and
a desire to demonstrate the unit's
long-range capability, the unit de-
cided to take the challenge.
Planning a l5-hr, nonstop flight
is a difficult, painstaking ordeal.
The route must be plarmed to avoid
no-fly areas, such as diplomatic and
noise sensitive areas, while arriving
at the destination in the most direct
way possible.
24
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
The route should be planned at a
conservative airspeed to allow for
head winds that will surely be en-
countered somewhere along the
1 ,630 nm course. Extensive coordi-
nation must be made along the route
to deal with unplanned weather or
maintenance contingencies.
In addition, the flight lead, with
the help of the flight surgeon, de-
tails the pilot and nonrated
crewmember rest schedule.
Finally, the flight lead and
the maintenance officer plan for
downed aircraft recovery and
ai rcrew rescue.
Among all other planning that
occurs, aerial refueling planning re-
quires the most attention to detail.
The pilots accomplish a thorough
map reconnaissance to determine
the best locations to conduct aerial
refueling with respect to winds, ter-
rain, and fuel divert locations.
The aerial refueling tracks must
occur before allowing a receiver air-
craft to go below the minimum fuel
"bingo" point.
The "bingo" point is a point that
does not allow the receiver aircraft
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
to make "feet dry ," if a joinup with
the tanker aircraft cannot be made.
Preferably, this "feet dry" location
will be to a place with fuel available.
In addition, the aerial refueling
tracks must allow for tanker flex-
ibility to make the nextjoinup either
earlier or later than was originally
planned in the event of unantici-
pated' winds.
The tanker aircraft, in this case an
HC-130 from the 9th Special
Operations Squadron out of Eglin
Air Force Base, Fla. , must have
time to conduct aerial refueling
25
An Air Force HC-130 refuels two MH-47D helicopters over southeast Georgia.
of its own from a KC-13S tanker
aircraft.
Upon completion, the HC-130
returns to meet the helicopters fur-
ther down the route for the next
scheduled aerial refueling track.
Preparation for a lS-hr, nonstop
deployment in most Army Aviation
units would be an overwhelming
task. However, 2-l60th SOAR(A)
is trained and always ready for this
type of mission.
The unit set precedent when it
deployed over 12 hrs nonstop from
Hurlbert Field, Fla., to Panama to
support operation" Just Cause." This
unit maintained the ability to ac-
complish this type of contingency
deployment ever since.
Although 2-l60th SOAR(A) is
trained for long-range deployments,
pilots and enlisted crewmem bers still
must carefully check and preflight
the aircraft.
The enlisted crewmembers con-
figure the aircraft to support crew
rest and aircrew overwater rescue.
In addition, the unit conducted an
II-hr, nonstop rehearsal with two
aerial refueling tracks during the
deployment from Fort Stewart, Ga.,
to Puerto Rico one week earlier.
26
The unit conducted water sur-
vival and overwater, downed
aircrew, rescue refresher training
before the rehearsal. Therefore, with
the exception of the planning phase,
preparation for the deployment was
only a small hurdle to overcome.
Planning the deployment took
several days. The flight lead orga-
nized the pilots for the mission,
eli vided the tasks to be accomplished,
and coordinated the entire planning
process.
Pilots conducted detailed map
studies, checked climatology, and
identified fuel divert locations in
the Bahamas and in the Southeast-
ern United States.
The battalion intelligence officer
coordinated diplomatic clearances,
and the flight surgeon recommended
the crew rest cycle. Next, the flight
lead coordinated the aerial refueling
tracks with the tankers.
Finally, the air mission com-
mander and the flight lead wargamed
the contingencies and the chain of
command approved the final plan.
The deployment, as planned,
would take IS hrs and require three
aerial refueling tracks. Each aerial
refueling track required I,SOO gal-
Ions (gals) of gas per aircraft for a
total of 4,SOO gals per track.
The three aerial refueling tracks
combined required 13,SOO gals of
gas.
The flight surgeon deployed with
the MH-47Ds to monitor the air
crews. In addition, avionics, engine,
and electric shop specialists de-
ployed among the three aircraft with
a maintenance test pilot to help wi th
en route maintenance contingencies.
As the planning and coordination
were completed, weather and main-
tenance became the two biggestwor-
ries. Maintenance is always a con-
sideration when dealing with heli-
copters, particularly when the route
is over water at night and 15 hrs
long. However, the aircraft appeared
to be in good shape.
Weather advisers forecasted good
weather for the first 12 hrs of the
route, including the first two aerial
refueling tracks. However, they also
forecasted a frontal system over the
extreme Southeastern United States.
The third aerial refueling track
was scheduled to occur in southeast
Georgia. Based on the forecast, the
conditions appeared to be marginal
for the third and final aerial refueling
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
track.
The flight lead planned the route
at an altitude of 500 feet (ft) and 115
knots (kts) ground speed to allow
for a 20-kt head wind without
effecting the overall time schedule
of the deployment.
The aerial refueling tracks re-
quired a I ,500-ft ceiling and 3 miles
of visibility to effect join up with the
HC-130. The rest of the route only
required a 500-ft ceiling and 2 miles
of visibility.
The final deployment briefing
took place at 2130 hrs (lo-
cal) on 15 December 1992.
The flight lead and air mis-
sion commander stressed
safety, crew rest, en route
contingencies, and weather.
If weather prevented the
third aerial refueling track,
the flight would terminate in
southeastern Georgia where
the helicopters would be
forced to divert for fuel.
The 15-hr, nonstop de-
ployment would fail. If the
deployment did fail, good
training and valuable expe-
rience would still be gained
from the planning and prepa-
ration that had gone into the
an additional 30 min.
The flight arrived "feet dry" in
southeast Georgia nearly one hr
ahead of the original schedule. The
flight was on schedule to make the
third aerial refueling track.
The weather front had not yet
reached the southeast Georgi a coast.
However, there was alayerof ground
fog from the coast inland and the
clouds from the frontal system were
visible on the western horizon.
Thankfully, the aircraft experi-
enced no maintenance problems, and
have to split and continue to Fort
Campbell, individually, under in-
strument flight rules.
The unit had planned for this con-
tingency, therefore, it was not a big
problem. All three aircraft contin-
ued individually to the last check-
point before reaching Fort Campbell
where visual conditions were again
encountered.
The flight rejoined and arrived at
Campbell Army Airfield at 1135
hrs (local) on 16 December, 14.2hrs
after departing Puerto Rico.
~
o
deployment.
The flight departed
Roosevelt Roads Naval Air
Station, Puerto Rico, on
schedule at 2327 hrs (local)
This refueling track began at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto
Rico (not shown), to Fort Campbell, Ky. Each aerial refueling (AR)
shows two dots to indicate where the crews began and ended their
refueling operations.
on 15 December 1992. The first 12
hrs went as planned with the excep-
tion of the winds. The winds turned
out to be more favorable than ex-
pected.
Thus, the flight lead moved the
second aerial refueling track ahead
30 minutes (mins) from the origi-
nally planned time. The tanker re-
sponded to the 30-min bump and the
second aerial refueling track oc-
curred without incident.
The winds continued to be favor-
able, allowing the flightlead to move
the third aerial refueling track ahead
the crew rest rotation was working
as well as could be expected. Each
pilot and crewmem ber spent at least
3 hrs sleeping in the back of the
aircraft up to this point.
The tanker responded to the flight
lead's request for the second 30-min
bum p and the third aeri al refueling
track also occurred without inci-
dent. All three aircraft now had
enough fuel on board for the final
leg to Fort Campbell.
As the ai rcraft departed the tanker
and approached the frontal system,
it became evident the flight would
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
The 14.2 hrs is an Army rotary-
wing record for a nonstop flight.
The 2-160th SOAR(A) accom-
plished this record, partly because
of good luck wi th weather and main-
tenance.
However, enough cannot be said
about the efforts of all of the people
involved and the valuable training
accom pli shed.
The confidence, knowledge, and
experience gained from planning and
executing this deployment has al-
ready paid great dividends in keep-
ing this unit mission-ready.
27
The High-Capacity
Captain James M. Marotta
Directorate of MEDEVAC Proponency
U.S. Army Medical Department
Fort Rucker, Alabama
The u.s. Army Medical Depart-
ment (AMEDD), Fort Sam Hous-
ton, Texas, is developing new air-
craft systems to improve medical
evacuation (MEDEVAC) support on
tomorrow's battlefield. Alongside the
UH-60Q (seeA viationDigest, Janu-
ary/February 1993, pages 43-44,
"The New UH-60Q Black Hawk
MEDEVAC Helicopter," by Capt.
Gregory D. Fix), another airframe
initiative is the high-capacity air
ambulance (HCAA). Operational
requirements are being developed
by AMEDD's Directorate of
MEDEV AC Proponency, Fort
Rucker, Ala., to identify candidate
airframe systems based upon needs
from the Office of The Surgeon
General. This system must-
• Be able to clear a 50-foot (15-
meter) obstacle within 1,500 feet
(500 meters) of takeoff or landing
and stop within 1,500 feet (500
meters) after passing over a 50-foot
(IS-meter) obstacle with full
mission load.
28
• Be able to operate from an
unim proved landing/takeoff area with
a California bearing ratio of 2 to 4.
• Be able to transport at least 12
litter patients or 15 ambulatory
patients or a combination.
• Be self-deployable to all major
regional contingencies.
• Have a cargo transport capabil-
ity to move medical material in pack-
aged quantities to forward medical
elements.
• Be able to move forward surgi-
cal teams (FSTs) or other medical
teams forward to the ba ttle zone wi th
associated equipment and supplies.
• Have a range exceeding 1,260
nautical miles.
These requirements open thearena
to aircraft that are fixed-wing,
rotary-wing, and tilt-rotor or tilt-
wing airframes.
The need for an HCAA was first
highlighted by the XVIII Airborne
Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C., and the
18th Medical Command, YongSan,
Korea, by identifying the possible
use of a vertical and short take-offl
landing (VSTOL) aircraft with a
capability to evacuate and provide
en route care for 12 to 18 patients.
This concept was brought into play
as a result of operational needs state-
ments from field commanders who,
during Desert Storm, identifiedsome
evacuation concerns. Doctrinal evacua-
tion distances stretched beyond the
effective use of current rotary-wing
aircraft in tenns of speed, range, and
capacity. Only a VSTOL aircraft,
with the ability to take off and land
on unimproved strips, would fulfill
this requirement. While evacuation
helicopters have proven most effec-
tivein the forward battle areas, evacu-
ation from divisional areas could be
improved greatly with the introduc-
tion of a VSTOL aircraft.
The HCAA will link divisional
medical facilities, forward hospitals,
and FSTs to medical treatment fa-
cili ties in the corps or further to the
rear. Thus greater distances will
be allowed between levels of care
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Air
MEDICAL PANEL
(4UNITS)
LrrTERLIFT
CONTROLS
115 VAC 60HZ
220VAC6OHZ
Ambulance
NOT SHOWN:
OXYGEN GENERATION SYSTEM (MSOGS)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT (feU)
FEATURES:
12 UTTER PATIENT CAPACITY
3 CREW MEMBERS
AIR METHODS CORPORA
CASAC·212
MEDICAL INTERIOR
=
DENVER
3130193
General plan for the medical interior of the high-capacity air ambulance. The configuration, designed by Air
Methods Corporation, Denver, Colo., is based on the CASA C-212 airframe.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993 29
30
This view from the cargo door shows the actual interior of the CASA C-212. The
medical interior configuration is based on the Air Methods Corporation design. The
high-capacity air ambulance, still in the design stages, features a 12-litter capacity.
The CASA C-212 medical interior airframe configuration includes power litter lifts and
a medical equipment set.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
without increasing en route time.
The HCAA will increase hospital
operational time while decreasing the
frequency that resources are required
to relocate hospitals. The HCAA
also will transport whole blood and
blood products and provide Qass
VIII resupply (triservice) along with
disaster relief, humanitarian as-
sis tance, and na tion-building
operational support.
Though the HCAA is still in the
design stages, airframe develop-
ment is being explored by the
Army National Guard Bureau
with the AMEDD's Directorate
of MEDEV AC Proponency and
the U.S. Army Aviation Center
(USAA VNC), Fort Rucker, Ala. One
of the many airframe candidates is
the C-212, manufactured by CASA,
Inc., of Chantilly, Va. The aircraft
was recently sent out to Air Methods
Corporation of Englewood, Colo., to
develop a medical interior configu-
ration for 12 litters and two medical
attendants. Most of the interior fea-
tures-such as powered litter lifts,
crew seats, and a medical equipment
cabinet-will be the same as the
ones in use on the UH-60Q "proof-
of-principle" aircraft. Other features
will be an on-board oxygen generat-
ing system, environmental control
unit (ECU) for heating and cooling,
and a solution warmer/cooler. Each
litter position will have venting for
the ECU, individual lighting, and oxy-
gen to provide more comprehensive
individual care.
By using medical features and
equipment like those found on the
UH-60Q "proof-of-principle" air-
craft, the U.S. Army can establish
"continuity of care" throughout the
MEDEV AC process. This key con-
cept will improve survivability of
troops by integrating the care troops
receive from the moment they are
evacuated until they are transferred
to hospital units.
The actual airframe for the HCAA
will be determined after the opera-
tional requirements are developed.
The AMEDD is working jointly with
USAA VNC to determine a common
airframe that may also serve in other
roles-cargo, special electronic
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
mission aircraft, and special
operations--to standardize airframes.
Once the requirements are finalized,
an airframe will be selected and config-
ured as a "proof-of-principle" aircraft
to develop the medical interior,
mission equipment, and avionics.
The HCAA will be incorporated
in a new medical company (HCAA)
structure that will include four fixed-
wing aircraft and nine helicopters.
This structure is in the devel-
opmental stages and may include
more fixed-wing assets, depending
on on-goingstudies and models. This
new concept and structure will prob-
ably be tested by the Army National
Guard. Initially, this wiII take place
in Georgia, at the I51st Medical
Company (HCAA) , and Oregon,
with the 64Ist Medical Company
(HCAA). Follow-on units will be in
South Carolina and Tennessee.
As we enter the 21st century,
MEDEVAC will be vastly dif-
ferent from today. When this new
MEDEV AC system comes on line,
it wi II greatly enhance pa tien t
evacuation and care.
This CASA C-212,
located in Denver,
Colo., is shown here
in an exterior view.
The interior has been
configured as a high-
capacity air ambulance.
The C-212 is one of
many HCAA airframe
candidates.
31
32
The HELLFIRE and Air-to-Air Stinger missile on the modified OH-580 perform qualification testing
against imulated small mobile surface vessel targets off the Virginia coast.
Arming the OH-580
The First Kiowa Warriors ...
The only way to have defeated the threat in the Persian Gulf in
late 1987 was to find and destroy the enemy at night. How
could the U.S. find and destroy the threat at night? The Joint
Chiefs of Staff decided on one viable option-modification of the
OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopter. The AATD, A TeOM, Fort
Eustis, Virginia, came to the rescue.
Colonel John O. Benson
Commander
Aviation Applied Technology Directorate
U. S. Army Aviation and Troop Command
Fort Eustis, Virginia
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
late 1987,astheworldnervously
watched the events unfolding
in the Persian Gulf, the men and
women of the Aviation Applied
Technology Directorate (AA TO), Fort
Eustis, Va., were working feverishly on a
helicopter system that was destined to
make a major impact on that operation.
The U.S. Navy was escorting oil tank-
ers through the dangerous Persian Gulf
waters under constant threat from small,
speedy gunboats,which attacked at night
or used the cover of darkness to lay mines
in the shipping lanes.
The only way to defeat this threat was
to find them at night and destroy
them. This response required a
helicopter small enough to oper-
ate from Navy ships, but equipped
with sophisticated night target
acquisition systems and weap-
ons capable of demolishing the
gunboats with pinpoint accuracy.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff decided that
the only viable option was to extensively
modify an OH-58D Kiowa scout helicop-
ter-but who could do it and how long
would it take?
The obvious answer to "who'?" was
the AATO, an element of the U.S. Army
Aviation and Troop Conunand.
AATD's talented and capable
workforce of engineers and technicians
supported by a superb administrative and
contracting staff already had an un-
matched reputation for accomplishing
seemingly impossible tasks for Army
Aviation.
AA TO quickly responded to the re-
quirement by establishing a project tearn.
TIle project tearn, in conjunction with
Bell Helicopter Textron, Incorporated;
Rockwell International; and numerous
other industry and government agencies,
led the plaIU1ing and execution of this
extensive OH-58D modification effort.
The modification involved the installa-
tion and qualification of the HELLFIRE
missile, the Air-to-Air Stinger missile, the
50-caliber machinegun, and 2.75-inch
HYDRA 70 rockets.
In addition, the helicopters were to be
equipped with improved communication
and navigation systems, survivability
equipment, and special mission equip-
ment.
To withstand the electromagnetic in-
terference (EM!) environment onboard a
ship, each aircraft had to be extensively
hardened. There was no doubt that AA TO
could do it; their challenge was to do it in
months instead of years.
Major support tearns were formed from
the wide array of skills and expertise at
AATD.
The Engineering Design and Drafting
tearn designed and prepared detai led draw-
ing packages for the installation of com-
ponents such as the Cockpit Display Unit
(CDU), the Remote HELLFIRE Electron-
ics, the Pilot Steering Indicator, inverter,
gyro, and airborne rescue systems.
TIle Experimental Fabrication tearn cre-
ated and built braces for the HELLFIRE
laW1cher and brackets for the instrument
panel mOW1ting of the CDU.
They also fabricated sheet metal mOW1ts
for the added components and built six
floating targets to simulate gunboats for
missile testing. The Instrumentation tearn
designed, assembled, and installed elec-
trical interfaces for the added components
using special EMI suppression wiring.
The first OH-58D arrived at AA TO in
mid-November 1987 for the HELLFIRE
installation and as a prototype for EMI
testing at the Navy's facility in Dahlgren,
Va.
Following these tests, the modified OH-
58Dreturned toAATDfor HELLFIRE and
Air-to-Air Stinger qualification testing
conducted against simulated small mobile
surface vessels and stationary targets off
the Virginia coast.
Other elements in AA TO assisted in
these successful qualification tests by
providing the chase and support aircraft
for range control and the instrwnentation
and photographic documentation re-
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
quired to analyze the results of the tests.
Concurrently, the AA TD tearn began
plaIU1ing the production installation of
the selected systems on the OH-58D. The
number of aircraft to be modified had
increased from 5 to 15.
The tearn now had to ensure that ad-
equate components and spares were avail-
able for installation and that kits were
developed with the required wiring har-
ness components.
The initial plan was to accomplish in-
stallation and system checkout at Fort
Eustis. However, this plan was revised in
mid-December 1987 to accomplish the in-
stallation effort at Bell Heli-
copter facilities in Fort Worth,
Tex.
TIle logistics branch sprang
into action to transfer all nec-
essary supplies and equip-
ment on short notice to Texas.
As the installation proceeded, AA TO
continued to develop and qualify for in-
stallation two versions of airborne rescue
systems.
In addition, AATD investigated vari-
ous modifications to existing OH-58D
ground handling wheels so that ship-
board handling could be performed with
the aircraft pylons loaded with mW1itions.
The "how long" question was an-
swered when, through the coordinated
efforts of the AA TD/industry project team,
an armed OH-58D prototype was deliv-
ered in 90 days, and the first "produc-
tion" aircraft 30 days later to support
training before deployment to the Persian
Gulf.
The armed OH-58D proved so effective
in defeating the threat in the Persian Gulf
and later in Operation Desert Storm, that
the Anny initiated the Kiowa Warrior pro-
gram.
The resoW1ding success of the armed
OH-580 is directly attributable to the out-
standing men .md women who work at
AATD.
TIle diverse talents and skills of these
individuals have forged a wlique organi-
zation that continues to enhance Army
Aviation's preeminent warfighting capa-
bility.
33
The Army Drawdown
Whether down-sizing or
safety must continue.
CW3 Alfred L. Rice
Aviation Safety Officer
Aviation Training Brigade
Fort Rucker, Alabama
As the Arnly continues with its
down-sizing and right-sizing, avia-
tors , leaders, trainers, night sur-
geons, and commanders must
refocus and reapply principles of
good safety programs.
Many external factors are creating
turbulence, such as reductions in
force (RIFs), Selective Early Re-
tirement Boards (SERBs), budget
cuts, and force reductions, which
adversely affect the branch.
These factors make it difficult
to keep safety in its proper per-
spective. Already, the number of
Army Aviation mishaps for the
first half of fiscal year (FY) 1993
has drastically increased.
As we continue to lose our ex-
perienced personnel, it is even
more critical than ever before that
we emphasize the safety success
stories. External forces may push
us in the direction of a hollow
Army.
However, these guidelines, if ap-
plied, could serve to fill the void
with a core of safety as strong as
steel.
To counter the effects of the mili-
tary drawdown, we must not only
draw on past experience, but also
we must implement those prin-
ciples practiced by aviation units
that have had the most success
in their safety programs.
34
Maintenance. Maintenance offic-
ers and NCOs must continue to
ensure maintenance is performed by-
the-book. Distractors will always
be there.
Filtering out external distractors
is the major challenge of mainte-
nance leadership.
Pride in aviation maintenance must
be upheld through proper supervi-
sion, on- the-spot corrections, and
maintenance performed by-the-book
all the time. Budget cuts may reduce
availability in parts; remember, how-
ever, that quality control in mainte-
nance is nonnegotiable.
The strength of any maintenance
program lies in quality control. Tech-
nical inspectors must never sacrifice
quality for quantity or a good opera-
tional readiness rating. Command-
ers must not tolerate such a practice.
Medicine. Flight surgeons will
continue to be a critical element in a
commander's safety program and
must be extensively involved in a
unit's aeromedical needs.
Stresses caused by down-sizing
and other changes in the new Army
may manifest themselves in ways
detectable only by the flight sur-
geon.
Flight surgeons continue to be
invaluable to the safety program
not merely as they speak to us,
enhancing our knowledge of the
aeromedical aspects of flying, but
as they care for the soldier.
Commanders who demonstrate
concern for the welfare of
soldier tend to have credible and
well-respected safety programs.
Training. Safety through training
must be a combined effort on the
part of all players. Commanders
and trainers must ensure training
standards are established and ad-
hered to everyday.
The philosophy of General John
A. Wickham Jr., fornler Army
Chief of Staff, that "Nothing we
do in peacetime warrants the unnec-
essary risk of life or equipment,"
holds as true now in the 1990s as
it did in the 1980s.
We must never sacrifice safety for
the sake of realistic training. Avia-
tors must strive for pride, profes-
sionalism, and self-disCipline in their
attitude about training to standard.
Many institutional pressures in our
daily mission influence soldiers to
cut corners. The Army needs people
with conviction and discipline, who
insist on performing the standards.
We must ensure safety continues
after training ceases by using
mentorship programs and the "po-
lice our own" principle. Flight hours
must be managed efficiently for
maximum crew and team training.
The task of safe training and opera-
tion is difficult when flying fluctuates
from a tield exercise feast to garrison
fanline.
We should strive towards a con-
stant operations tempo. When this is
not possible, train to crawl and walk
before you run.
When the tempo of training is
high, crews must always guard
against carelessness and compla-
cency. Trainers should stress
by-the-book flying at all times.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
And
They also must "instruct" and
not merely administer checkrides.
They must monitor proper flight
planning, crew selection, and con-
sider other factors: total aviator flight
time, recent aviator flight time, and
flight crew skills when pairing the
experience and the inexperienced pi-
lot.
Accident prevention. Only ex-
perienced and motivated aviators
should be selected as the aviation
safety officer (ASO) for the unit.
Once on board, the influence and
Aviation
that all members of the unit make on-
the-spot corrections.
The Army Aviation safety programs
of the 1990s should be focused on
areas, such as situational awareness,
crew coordination, and cockpit re-
source management
Human error will continue to plague
our accident record. These programs
are focused towards reducing human
error.
Management. The commander is
every unit's most effective safety
officer. A commander who becomes
. :.' .:-..... :.,::::. '.: ....... :c: .... ::. c ... .

void, caused by . the :·arawdown, :with . a
core of safety as strong as <steel.
effectiveness of the ASO can be lim-
ited or enhanced by the command
support the individual receives.
Safety officers must be actively
involved in, and intimately knowl-
edgeable of, the unit's operations.
The safety officer then must
guard against becoming so over
familiar with the operations that
risk identitication becomes lost.
For example, people living close
to a railroad track often stop
hearing the noise of the trains!
The risks should be identified
through surveys; staff meetings;
safety councils; operational hazard
reports; suggestion programs; pre-
liminary report of aircraft mishaps;
and statistics.
Risks can be reduced through
standing operating procedures; safety
education; safety meetings; safety
awareness; work orders; and com-
mand involvement.
Safety is enhanced with by-the-
book operations. A proactive pro-
gram should be targeted towards
reducing the risks of the unit. Insist
wholeheartedly involved in safety will
have the entire unit following the
same way.
Commanders must act to enforce
self-discipline, demanding all sol-
diers make on-the-spot corrections
of safety hazards. Willful violations
and deviations from proper flight
procedures must be addressed with
appropriate consequences.
As a a:mmarrer establ.isres account-
ability, that person must understand
pilots are human and prone to making
honest mistakes.
Commanders should actively in-
volve themselves in operational plan-
ning and require their staffs to be
actively involved with risk manage-
ment of all missions.
A commander with only one avia-
tion safety officer will not have
as effective a safety program as a
commander who has everyone in
the unit tasked to perform risk
management.
Everyone must identify hazards,
assesstb!hazard, make a risk decision,
and control and supervise the risk.
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Safety
Commanders must monitor the
operational tempo of the training and
ensure the command has gone
through the crawl and walk phases
before they run.
Commanders should be highly
selective in their pilot-in-command
(PC) appointment process and con-
sider advice from other PCs,
instructor pilots, aviation safety
officers, and platoon leaders.
In many cases, the attributes of
maturity, good judgment, and com-
mon sense are critical to reducing
the risks caused by human error .
Commanders must realize that,
although the demand for mission
accomplishment and having a C-l
readiness rating is strong, the require-
ment towards safe mission accom-
plishment is even stronger.
To illustrate this point, risk
management was used in Desert
Storm. What was noteworthy about
the victory was not so much that
the Iraqi anny was defeated, but
that the mission was accom-
plished with so few casualties.
With our resources dwindling,
we need to train safer and smarter,
not harder. Successful aviation safety
programs receive strong support from
higher headquarters, especially in
safety-related command decisions.
Units that historically have excel-
lent safety records have all imple-
mented these principles.
These basic principles would
serve all units well as the Army
down-sizes and the experience base
and flying hours become smaller.
There are no shortcuts or gim-
micks to having a safe Aviation
Branch. We have to do things
smarter and we have to do them
right.
By applying the principles dis-
cussed, we can avoid as much as
possible any bad accident records.
35
The Armed OH-58D increases the effectiveness o/the corps cavalry squadron by
providing true night reconnaissance capability coupled with the ability to deliver
precision munitions.
Corps Air Cavalry Operations
In the Deep Battle
36
The corps squadron can operate in the deep
arena, well in front of the FLOT, to make the
most use of the stealth and night imagery
capabilities of the Armed OH-580.
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Captain Wensley Barker
Commander, B Troop
4th Squadron
17th Cavalry Regiment (Air)(Recon)
18th Aviation Brigade
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
he advent of the
corps-level air cav-
alry squadron dra-
matically increases
the commander's
ability to see and
shape the deep and
close battles.
This squadron operates well for-
ward of division-level cavalry to
conduct reconnaissance and secu-
rity at key locations within the area
of operations.
To realize the full potential of this
new element, commanders must treat
the corps squadron as a deep asset,
requiring extensive fire support
(FS), close air support (CAS), elec-
tronic warfare (EW), and combat
service support (CSS).
One of the most significant ad-
vantages of a corps-level reconnais-
sance and security force is the flex-
ibility of employment it offers.
The corps commander may incor-
porate the squadron's aircraft into
the close battle, conducting zone
reconnaissance of a critical sector or
screening a portion of the corps front
in conjunction with the division
squadrons.
What differentiates the corps
squadron from its divisional coun-
terparts, however, is the ability to
operate in the deep arena, well in
front of the forward line of own
troops (FLOT), making maximum
use of the stealth and night imagery
capabilities of the Armed OH-58D
Kiowa Warrior.
closely parallel the deep attacks
staged by corps-level attack units in
terms of planning, synchronization,
and support requirements.
In many instances, the need for
FS, EW, CAS, and CSS will be
more extensive, because of the pro-
tracted nature of the mission.
Whereas attack and assault heli-
copters generally cross the FLOT,
move to the objective, and return as
quickly as pos-
sible, cavalry
units conducting
reconnaissance
and security op-
erations, by the
nature of the
missions, spend
considerably
more time for-
ward of the
FLOT.
Forthis reason,
the commander
may have to al-
locate consider-
able resources to
protect and sus-
tain the force.
Fire support.
Depending on
range of the
mission,the
commander's
abili ty to pro-
vide artillery
support to the
squadron is
limited.
Although these missions are tai- Many recon-
lored to the capabilities of the armed naissanceopera-
air reconnaissance squadron, they tions will em-
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
ploy the squadron beyond the range
of medium artillery or at a point in
the battle when artillery assets are
limited or not available.
Long-range assets, such as mul-
tiplelaunchrocketsystem andArmy
tactical missile system, may be in-
corporated into the operation, but
because of their lethality and scar-
city are not conducive to on-call
suppression missions.
For many deep missions, fire sup-
port will likely be limited to the
FLOT crossing. As with other deep
aviation operations, the commander
must decide whether to penetrate by
fire or stealth.
Both scenarios may involve ex-
tensive artillery fires, for suppres-
sion in the former and deception in
the latter. Other options which merit
37
--...
~ 0 ~ . - - - - s - 0 ~
I
----..X x xx
yyy vv
The corps cavalry squadron operates in the deep battle area
well forward of division-level squadrons.
consideration are use of naval gun-
fire and attaching a light artillery
battery to the squadron for use in
cross-FLOT artillery raids.
Close air support. In the absence
of artillery support, CAS becomes
the cavalry commander's most ef-
fective means of massing a large
volume of firepower on an enemy
force.
Because of its ability to communi-
cate digitally with fixed-wing air-
craft and designate for laser-guided
munitions from behind cover, the
Armed OH-58D is ideally suited to
conducting joint air attack team
(J AA T) operations.
This capability may even give rise
to pre-planned cross-FLOT JAAT
operations involving Armed OH-
58D, AH-64 Apache, and CAS.
The more traditional reconnais-
sance and security missions also
mandate the availability of CAS to
the cavalry commander. No deep
cavalry mission should be planned
without giving serious consideration
to allocation of CAS sorties.
Electronic warfare. Incorpora-
tion ofEW assets into corps cavalry
missions is similar to other deep
operations. Uses include jamming
threat radars during ingress and
egress; locating potential concen-
trations of enemy with ground sur-
veillance radars and airborne plat-
forms, such as joint surveillance
target acquisition radar system; and
intercepting threatcommunications.
The commander may wish to con-
sider attaching an EH-60 to the
squadron for operations in a high
electronic countermeasures/elec-
tronic counter-countermeasures en-
vironment.
Combat service support. As with
divisional squadrons, the capability
of the corps-level squadron is di-
rectly related to its ability to sustain
itself with fuel and ammunition.
The cavalry squadron is limited in
its ability to resupply ammunition.
similarly, the squadron's refuel ca-
pability is restricted to heliborne
forward area refueling equipment
systems.
These are cumbersome and vul-
nerable to attack when discovered.
Deep operations may require aug-
mentation with CH-47 Chinook sup-
port for positioning and resupply of
ammunition points and "fat cow"
refueling support.
The arrival of the Multi-Purpose
Light Helicopter package will en-
hance the squadron's ability to sup-
port itself, but only in a limited
sense.
Transport of bulk Class III and V
will require brigade and corps as-
sets.
Other force modernization devel-
opments that warrant further con-
sideration are auxiliary fuel systems
for the Armed OH-58D, a wet-wing
capability for the UH-60 External
Stores Support System and UH-60
internal fuel tanks.
Justas critical to the effectiveness
of deep cavalry operations as re-
source allocation is proper planning.
The Corps Deep Battle Cell should
include planners who are experi-
enced with the Armed OH-58D and
corps cavalry operations.
Further, the aviation community
should educate higher level com-
manders and staffs on the capabili-
ties and limitations of the squadron
as they determine the future mis-
sions.
The corps-level air cavalry squad-
ron represents a new step in the
ability of higher level commanders
to see and influence today's highly
fluid battlefield.
By viewing the unit as a true deep
asset, with all of the requisite sup-
port requirements, corps command-
ers will capitalize on the unique
capabilities of the air reconnaissance
squadron and its weapons systems.
The commander will also employ
them to achieve maximum effec-
tiveness.
38 u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Aviation Officers Should Be
Commanding Heavy Division
Cavalry Squadrons
The time has arrived for
aviation officers to command the
heavy division cavalry squadrons.
Only armor officers now command
this unique air-ground team.
Why? Armor officers often reply
that ground cavalry forces are too
complex to be maneuvered by
aviators untrained in armor. This
answer, of course, is true.
However, aviation, equally as
complex as armor, should not
be employed by armor leaders
un trained in aviation.
Allowing aviation officers to
command heavy division cavalry
squadrons is not as monumental a
task as armor officers might be-
lieve. Reconnaissance squadrons
in the light infantry divisions are
commanded by aviation officers.
These units have a ground troop
of scouts mounted with high
mobility, multipurpose wheeled
vehicles (HMMWVs). This
squadron can execute the same
CPT Howard E. Arey
Assistant 83
4th Brigade, 1 st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas
reconnaissance and security
missions as the heavy division's
cavalry squadron-except that it
performs in the low-intensity
confl ict versus the mid- to high-
intensity conflict. Employing
HMMWV scouts, who put "eyes
and ears" forward in a security
role, uses the same doctrine as
The A viation Branch
must act quickly to
prepare its officers to
command cavalry forces
in the future.
maneuvering M-I tanks and M-3
cavalry fighting vehicles (CFVs)
toward the forward security ele-
ment of a motorized rifle regiment
as part of a guard mission. The
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
command of the division presents
a si m i lar exam pI e-artillery of-
ficers regularly command divi-
sions throughout the Army. Most
of the units they will employ are
armor or infantry units, not artil-
lery. Are these general officers,
lacking experience in com-
manding armor or infantry units,
less capable of commanding units
than the generals who come from
the Armor or Infantry? Of course
not. The artillery officer gains
experience throughout his career
supporting maneuver units that
enables him to understand the
fighting tactics of these units.
Aviation officers gain similar ex-
perience at the company-grade
level. The air cavalry troop com-
mander has as much experience
conducting screen missions as his
ground counterpart. Likewise, the
air cavalry commander has as
much experience employing
ground cavalry as does the ground
39
cavalry officer employing air Armor Center, Fort Knox, Ky., these forces unless he understands
cavalry. should develop a hands-on course the techniques required. This is
Some officers may say that for these aviation officers so that true also for the aviation officer
armor or aviation officers should the Armor Branch knows that its corps. The start of a "Utility" and
not command each other's forces, armor forces will be both well led "Attack/Cavalry" specialty branch
especially in this increasingly tech- and well used. The increased within theAviation Branch would
nological Army. Highly complex credibility of an aviation officer ensure that our officers are tacti-
OH-58D Kiowa Warriors and qualifiedasanM-lorM-3(Table cally proficient. An officer rated
RAH--66 Comanches soon will VIII) armor officer would be a in the UH-60 Black Hawk or
be beyond the employment capa- step in the right direction. Also, CH-47 Chinook with a lift back-
bility of the armor commander an armor officer who understands ground must be able to do more
used to the less complex OH-58C scout helicopter tactics and could than define the critical tasks of a
Kiowa/AH-l Cobra scout weap- screen mission to take command
ons team. Technological advances of a cavalry organization. He also
in armor-such as digital com- must understand the in-depth mis-
munication between vehicles, Tradition is no reason sion analysis required to prepare
"brilliant" m uni tions, and the to continue limiting the the mission. He must have partici-
future scout vehicle (FSV)- command of cavalry pated in these missions as a
will continue to push command squadrons to armor lieutenant and captain. Aviation
out of the reach of aviation officers. officers need to understand the
officers. The Aviation Branch spectrum of aviation missions-
must act quickly to prepare its just as armored cavalry officers
officers to command cavalry must understand tank battalion
forces in the future. function in the left-hand seat of operations. These officers are
Precommand Courses (PCCS) anOH-58Dwouldshowtheavia- needed to staff the brigades and
are required for newly selected tion officers under his command plan the division-level operations.
battalion and squadron command- that he is technically and tactically Aviation officers sent to com-
ers. The Cavalry Commander's proficient in the employment of mand cavalry squadrons must be
Course needs to go one step his aviation assets. This cross- the ones who best understand the
further. What does the aviation branch proficiency and leadership wartime role of these units and
lieutenant colonel who will com- ofthecommanderalsowouldkeep are abreast of the most recent
mand the cavalry squadron need? either branch's officers from advances in technology and
Armor experience. Because avia- perceiving that they were "second- tactics.
tion has become its own branch, rate citizens" of the squadron. Times, tactics, and technology
we will see fewer and fewer These are short-term fixes. The havechanged. Tradition isnorea-
aviation officers who have begun Aviation Branch should start to son to continue limiting the com-
their career in armor. The cavalry look for long-term solutions. As mand of cavalry squadrons to
squadron these officers will soon I mentioned before, technologi- armor officers. The Army should
command may be the first unit cal advances in aviation aircraft do what is best for the future of
where they get experience with and tactics will make the armor the cavalry-open command to
tanks and CFVs. The U.S. Army officer less capable to command both armor and aviation officers.
40 u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Warrant Officer Career Paths
The Aviation Restructure
Initiative will begin converting
units to the new A-series table(s)
of organization and equipment
(TOEs) in Fiscal Year 1994. Ele-
ments of the Warrant Officer Man-
agement Act and the Warrant
Officer Leader Development
Action Plan have been built into
these new TOEs.
For Scout, Reconnaissance
(Recon), Cavalry, and Attack
warrant officers in area of con-
centration 152, career patterns
have changed. Four aviation war-
rant officer career paths lead to
chief warrant officer 5 (CW5).
These career paths are safety,
operations, maintenance, and
training. They are identified with
specific special qualification
identifiers (SQls).
Safety. Warrant officers can
unofficially enter this career path
CW5 Clifford L. Brown
Aviation Proponency
U.S. Army Aviation Center
Fort Rucker, Alabama
as a warrant officer 1 (W01) or
CW2 by performing duties as an
assistant safety officer, fire
marshall, or ground safety or for-
eign object damage officer at the
company level. Official entry into
the safety career path occurs as a
promotable CW2(P) or as a CW3
by completing the Aviation Safety
Officer (ASO) Course and being
awarded SQI B. All company-
level safety officer positions in
Scout, Recon, Cavalry, and
Attack are rank coded for CW3s.
Upon promotion to CW4, safety
officers will be assigned to an
attack battalion, command
avia tion battalion, or cavalry
squadron staff as the ASO. Upon
promotion to CW5, safety officers
will be assigned to a regiment,
group, or brigade staff as the ASO.
Many tables of distribution and
allowances (TDA) safety officer
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
positions are available at the
installation, corps, and Army
levels. The U.S. Army Safety
Center, Fort Rucker, Ala., has
several positions at the CW5
level as accident investigators.
Operations. Warrant officers
can begin this career path as a
W01 or CW2 by becoming the
company aircraft survivability
equipment/electronic warfare
(ASE/EW) officer. Completing
the ASE/EW course generates
the award of additional skill
identifier (ASI) H3. Receiving
the ASI H3 does not require an
officer to follow the operations
career path; however, tactical
operations officers must have a
strong background in ASE/EW.
Official entry into the operations
career path occurs as a CW2(P) or
CW3 after either completing one
year as an assistant operations
41
officer orthe JointAir Operations
Course given at the Air Ground
Operations School, Eglin Air
Force Base, Fla., and being
awarded the SOl I. Company-
level tactical operations officer
positions are rank coded for
CW3s. Upon promotion to CW 4,
tactical operations officers will be
assigned to an attack battalion,
command aviation battalion, or
cavalry squadron Operations and
Training Officer (S3) staff as the
tactical operations/EW officer.
Upon promotion to CW5,
tactical operations officers will
be assigned to a regiment, group,
or brigade S3 staff as the tactical
operations/EW officer.
Maintenance. Warrant officers
can sometimes begin this career
pathasa W01 orCW2bybecom-
ing assistant maintenance test
pi lots or by attending the Aircraft
Armament Maintenance Techni-
cian Course. Official entry into the
maintenance career path occurs
as a CW2(P) or as a CW3 after
completing the Maintenance
Manager/Maintenance Test Pilot
Course and being awarded SOl
G. All company-level aviation
maintenance officer positions are
rank coded for CW3s. Upon pro-
motion to CW4, aviation mainte-
nance officers will be assigned to
an aviation unit maintenance
com pany as the production or
quality control officer or to an
aviation intermediate mainte-
nance battalion, attack battalion,
command aviation battalion, or
cavalry squadron Supply Officer
42
(S4) staff as the aviation materiel
officer/maintenance test flight
evaluator (MTFE). By May 1994,
SOl Lwill be approved for coding
positions and warrant officers
that require MTFEskills. Upon
promotion to CW5, aviation
maintenance officers will be
assigned to a regiment, group,
or brigade S4 staff as the aviation
materiel officer. Many positions
also exist in IDA organizations
for aviation materiel officers
at the installation, corps, and
Army levels.
Training. Warrant officers can
unofficially enter this career field
as a W01 by performing duties as
a unit trainer. Official entry into
this career path occurs as a CW2
after completing an instructor pilot
course and being awarded SOl C.
All company-level instructor
pilot positions will be rank coded
for CW2s. Upon promotion to
CW3 and completion of the
Instrument Flight Examiner
Course, warrant officers will be
awarded SOl F. This SOl is coded
for CW3s at the company level
with a duty position title of senior
instructor pilot (SIP). Upon pro-
motion to CW 4 and completion
of local certification procedures,
warrant officers can become a
standardization instructor pilot
and be awarded SOl H. As a CW 4,
SIPs will be assigned as the com-
pany SIP or the attack battalion,
command aviation battalion, or
cavalry squadron SIP and standard-
ization officer. Upon promotion to
CW5, SIPs will be assigned at the
regiment, group, or brigade level
as the standardization officer.
Many positions also exist in
TDA organizations for SIPs/
standardization officers at the
installation, corps, and Army
levels.
Leader Development. During
each successively higher level of
rank, warrant officers are required
to attend leader development
courses. As a CW2(P) or as a
junior CW3, warrant officers must
attend the Warrant Officer Ad-
vanced Course. Upon selection for
CW4, attendance at the Warrant
Officer Staff Course is man-
datoI)'. Upon selection for CW5,
warrant officers must attend
the Warrant Officer Senior
Staff Course.
Aviation
Proponency
Office
Readers may address
matters concerning aviation
personnel notes to-
Chief, Aviation Proponency
Office, ATTN:ATZQ-AP,
Fort Rucker, AL36362-5000;
or call DSN 558-5706/2359
or commercial 205-255-5706/
2359.
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
AVIATION LOGISTICS
Maintenance Test Flight: A Different Kind
of Risk
MAJ Russell M. Stansifer
Director
Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization
U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School
The Maintenance Test Flight
Standardization Division (MTFSD)
at the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics
School (USAALS), Fort Eustis, Va.,
is responsible for the worldwide
maintenance test pilot (MP) stan-
dardization mission. The MTFSD
conducts MP and maintenance
test flight evaluator (ME) evalua-
tions. But it also is a resource for
commanders.
Many commanders need assistance
in risk management. I call it risk
management in aircraft mainte-
nance-as opposed to risk assess-
ment-because everything a
maintainer does to that aircraft in-
volvessomeelementofriskthatcould
affect the safe operation of the air-
craft. I'm not telling commanders
that they should be preparing risk
assessments for each little mainte-
nance task. That is why we train
soldiers, supervisors, and leaders to
think safety and q uali ty in every main-
tenance task that they accomplish.
The aircraft maintenance business is
a perpetual activity thathasanequally
perpetual element of risk that must be
considered and managed to minimize
the potential to compromise safety.
Why is the maintenance test
flight (MTF) business so different
from any other set of tasks in
Fort Eustis, Virginia
Army aviation? Commanders, wake
up and smell the "23699." Pick up
your new aircrew training manual,
and look through Chapter 7. Com-
pare the MP/ME tasks to any other
task in the book, and show me the
similarities. There are none. I know
of no other task, forexample,suchas
on the UH-1 Iroquois that requires
you to climb to 8,000 or 9,000 feet
and bleed the rotor revolutions per
minute (RPM) to 6,200 to confirm
maximum fuel flow. This task typi-
cally is accomplished single pilot.
I'm not saying that this is any more
risky than night vision device (NVD)
multiship operations. It probably is
not. Comparing MTF tasks to NVD
tasks is like comparing apples and
oranges. That's my point. Mainte-
nance test flight is a different kind of
risk.
Training Circular (TC) 1-210,
Commander's Guide to Aircrew
Training, Chapter 5, covers a
commander's responsibilities
concerning risk management. This
manual is not intended to teach you
the steps of risk management or your
duties as a commander. The ideas
proposed here are different areas of
concern that you should consider
for MTFs. TC 1-210, pages 5-8
and 5-9, sample format for risk
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
assessment matrix, has only one
reference to an MTF. That is
Block 9 (complexity) with a value
of "3" for day and "5" for night
MTFs. Also, how do you assign
values to single-pilot operation with
a crewchief in the left or front seat?
Technically, if a unit patterned its
matrix completely from TC 1-210,
an MP with 2,000 hours total time
and less than 50 hours in the area of
operations (AO) flying single pilot
would have the same risk val ue as
two pilots, both with more than 2,000
hours and more than 50 hours in the
AO. The following are some ex-
amples of the different areas of
concern in risk management.
MP qualification and experience.
• Maintenance Management/
Maintenance Test Pilot Course Phase
II qualified, subsequent aircraftquali-
fied, challenge-the-coursequalified,
grandfathered.
• Last MTFSD evaluation, ME
eval ua tion, MTFSD-designee
eval uation.
• Total MPIME experience, num-
ber of MTFs completed in last 90
days, aircraft flight time in last
30 days.
• Single pilot with crewchief in
left or front seat.
43
MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY IS FOREMOST!
MAINTENANCE IS JOB ONE!
UNIT: ____________ _
DATE: ________________________ ___
1. COMPLEXITY (risk value)
LOCATION(TYPE OF TEST FLIGHT
LIMITED GENERAL EVAC
Field
GARRISON
ATTACHED UNIT
235
124
Field 3
GARRISON 2
4
3
5
5
COMMANDER EVALUATION ______________ _
2. WEATHER
WIND CEILING VISIBILITY
VELOCITY <500/2 1,000/3 > 1,000/3
21-30 KT 6 4 3
11-20 KT 6 3 2
0-10KT 6 3 1
COMMANDER EVALUATION _____________ _
3. CREW REST (Based on mission profile crew
member with least amount of rest)
QUALITY LENGTH OF REST LAST 24 HR
OF REST >8 HR 6-8 HR <6 HR
FIELD SITE 3 4 5
RON 2 3 5
HOME STATION 1 2 3
COMMANDER EVALUATION
4. CREW SELECTION-MP
HOURS
<750 750-1,500
MP 3 2
COMMANDER EVALUATION
>1,500
1
5. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FACTORS
MECHANIC NO. WORKING ON AIRCRAFT
EXPERIENCE 1-2 3-4 5-6 7+
HIGH 1 2 3 4
AVERAGE 2 3 4 5
MINIMUM 3 4 5 6
COMMANDER EVALUATION _____________ _
MISSION:
--------------------------
APPROVED BY:
--------------------
MISSION RISK FACTOR:
-------------
6. MTP QUALIFICATION
ACFT AMOC III-qualified
FLYING UH-1 OH-58 CH-47 AH-1
UH-1 1 2 3 2
OH-58 2 1 3 2
CH-47 3 3 1 3
AH-1 2 2 3 1
UH-60 3 3 2 3
Fm 3 3 3 3
UH-60
3
3
2
3
1
3
COMMANDER EVALUAnON ______________ _
7. DENSITY ALTITUDE
ELEVATION
TEMP SL-2,OOO 2-5,000
<10 1 2
10-30 2 3
>30 3 4
5,000+
2
4
5
COMMANDEREVALUAnON ______________ _
8. OTHER FACTORS
TIME OF DAYS OF CONT CREW
DAY <5 5-9 10-15 >15
0800--1600 1 2 3 5
1600--2400 2 3 4 6
COMMANDEREVALUAnON ______________ _
9. CREW SELECTION-PI
HOURS
<750 750-1,500
MP 3 2
P/IP/SIP 4 3
CREW CHIEF 5 5
>1,500
1
2
5
COMMANDER EVALUAnON _____________ __
10. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACTORS
LEVEL OF NO. OF DAYS DOWN
MAINT 10-30 30-90 OVER 90
AVUM 2 3 4
AVIM 4 5 6
DEPOT 5 6 7
COMMANDER EVALUATION
---------------
LOW RISK < 20 MEDIUM RISK < 30 HIGH RISK = > 30
Figure 1. Example of an MTF risk-analysis worksheet
44 u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
Aircraft maintenance factors.
• Maintenance work force and
supervisor experience.
• Maintenance workplace
condi tions in the hangar, field site,
and flight line; weather conditions;
day or night.
• Complexity of the maintenance
performed, aircraft downtime,
previous cannibalization of aircraft.
• Maintenance personnel rest
factors.
• Quality control personnel
experience.
Type ofMTF to be performed.
• General, limited, maintenance
operation check, troubleshooting to
duplicate a suspected fault, one-
time flight for evacuation.
• Maintenance test flight tasks
to be performed, turbine engine
anal ysis check, power cy linder chec k.
• Type of test equipment installed
and crew coordination to operate the
equipment.
Weather for the MTF.
• Day or night.
• Special visual flight rules
(SVFR), marginal visual flight rules
(VFR), clear, VFR on top.
• Wind conditions for hover checks.
I recommend that commanders
meet with their MP{MEs to discuss
the MTF task variables for the type
of aircraft in the unit.
Consider all the nonmaintenance
mission risk factors. Then list MTF
risk factors and com pare them. Once
you see the differences, you may
decide to develop your own MTF
risk-analysis worksheet for MTF
pre-mission planning. Figure 1 is an
example of an MTF risk assessment
worksheet. From this you can easily
develop an MfF risk matrix that
covers the MTF mission.
U.S. Army
Aviation
Logistics
School
Readers may address
matters about aviation
logistics to-
Assistant Commandant,
U.S. Army Aviation
Logistics School, ATTN:
ATSQ-LAC, Fort Eustis,
VA 23604-5415.
u.s. Army Class A Aviation Flight Mishaps
Total
Flying Military Cost (in
Fiscal Year Number Hours Rate Fatalities millions)
FY 92 (through 31
August) 20 1,263,878 1.58 10 $81.5
FY 93 (through 31 1,194,434
August) 22 (estimated) 1.84 22 $99.8
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993 45
ATCFocus
Doing more with less
The ongoing downsizing of the
U.S. Army has affected organiza-
tions at just about every level. Air
traffic control (ATC) services haven't
been immune from the downsizing.
Cutbacks will mean the end of ATC
services at some installations. In the
case of Fritzsche Army Airfield, at
Fort Ord, Calif., ATC services are
being terminated.
While the Anny's downsizing has
caused some missions to be consoli-
dated, in other cases, functions have
been transferred from one post to
another. An example is the transfer,
earlier this year, of the Joint Readi-
ness Training Center from Fort
Chaffee, Ark., to Fort Polk, La. Be-
cause of the realignment, Fort Polk
needed another AN/FPN-40
ground-controlled approach radar
system, an associated radome, and a
nondirectional beacon (NDB). These
assets were available at Fort Ord.
However, these assets had to be
moved from California to Louisiana.
One option was for the Communi-
cations Electronics Equipment In-
stallation Agency, Fort Huachuca,
Ariz., to handle the entire move-
dismantle at Fort Ord, ship to Fort
Polk, and then reassemble, align,
and flight check reinstalled systems.
The initial estimate to dismantle and
reassemble just the radome was more
than $21,000. The cost of packaging
the radar at Fort Ord and installing
the radar at Fort Polk would have
about doubled that cost.
46
Mr.NeaIE.Johnson
U.S. Army Air Traffic Control Activity
Fort Rucker, Alabama
This cost seemed high to the U.S.
Army Air Traffic Control Activity,
which wasa keyplayerin the project.
The Activity, whichsoughtacheaper
solution, was assigned the project. It
tasked its Area Maintenance and
Supply Facility (AMSF) to accom-
plish the mission in the most cost-
effective manner, which meant find-
ing some help.
The 14th Engineer Battalion and
2/58th ATC Platoon personnel at
Fort Ord were requested to dismantle
the radome. While this was being
done, AMSFpersonnel requisitioned,
received, and uncrated an AN/FPN-
40 radar at Fort Polk, recently re-
ceived from Tobyhanna Army De-
pot (TOAD), Pennsylvania. The ship-
ping crates were loaded into a rental
truck and driven to Fort Ord by
AMSF personnel.
The radar, which was to be turned
in, was placed in the shipping crates
for transport back to TOAD. The
radome and NDB, dismantled by
Fort Ord personnel, were driven to
Fort Polk in the rental truck.
Personnel of the 205th Engineer-
ing and Installation Squadron, Okla-
homa Air National Guard, Oklahoma
City, Okla., arrived at Fort Polk and
reassembled the radome. TheAMSF
and TOAD personnel then installed
and aligned the ANIFPN-40 radar.
The NDB will be installed when an
antenna-tuning unit is available.
This project was planned, co-
ordinated, and executed by the U.S.
Army Air Traffic Control Activity
forabout$12,000, a savings of about
$30,000 compared to the original
estimate.
Doingbusiness cheaper is theway
of the present and future. This project,
the sucessful transfer of ATC equip-
ment from one location to another,
shows that sometimes-with a little
extra effort and some help--we can
do more with less.
The activity is now working with
the Oklahoma National Guard to set
up a workable agreement for their
personnel to assume the mission for
on-site antenna maintenance for
ATC facilities throughout the conti-
nental UnitedStatesatminimum cost.
The agreement also will include re-
pair by the unit of ATC VHF/UHF
radio antennas at their home station
in Oklahoma City.
u.s. Army
Air Traffic
Control
Activity
Readers may address
matters concerning air
traffic control to-
Commander, USAAVNC,
ATTN: ATZQ-ATC-MO,
Fort Rucker, AL 36362-
5265
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
The Improved Recovery Vehicle
Mr. Wayne E. Hair
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army Test and Experimentation Command
Fort Hood, Texas
During an operational test, the
U.S. Army Test and Experimen-
tation Command (TEXCOM),
Fort Hood, Texas, collects data
on the operational performance
of the new item of equipment in
the hands of the user. The test
requires the new system to be put
through its paces by troops in the
field in a real-world environment.
When it came to the Improved
Recovery Vehicle (IRV)
(M88AIE1), the test team, from
TEXCOM's Close Combat Test
Directorate, had to use some
ingenuity in their test planning.
Because the data to be collected
concerned the capabilities of the
IRV to recover disabled tanks,
scenarios had to be devised that
would exactly replicate real-
world circumstances-such as
overturning an M-l tank.
Conducted at Fort Riley,
Kansas, in July and August, the
tests involved both Army and U.S.
Marine recovery operators in m is-
sions ranging from turret removal
to recovery of mired M-l tanks
and those caught in tank traps.
The main focus of the test was
the towing mission. "Does the
IRV safely tow the M-l-series
tank in an operational environ-
ment?" The engine power, braking,
and safe control in towing
opera tions rate "Improved" over
the current M88Al that saw
U.S. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
duty in Operation Desert Storm.
In most towing operations, the
recovery vehicle should be about
the same weight as the vehicle
being towed. The current M88Al
weighs 56 tons while the current
M-l tank is in the 60-plus ton
range. The truth to the ratio
became evident during Desert
Storm. For this reason, Congress
directed the Army to upgrade its
armored recovery vehicles.
The Army isalso lookingtothe
future. The M-IA2, currently
undergoing operational test-
ing by TEXCOM at Fort Hood,
Texas, is close to 70 tons. The IR V
weighs 70 tons and is powered by
a 12-cylinder diesel engine with a
47
fuel-inj ection system and other
improvements to increase horse-
power from the current 750 to
1,050-along with a greatly
im proved braking system.
The three-man crew inside
receives more protection with the
IRV. Applique armor added to
the exterior of the hull protects
the crew from up to 30--millimeter
projectiles.
During the test, each of the three
prototype IRVs accumulated
between 400 and 500 miles.
About half of the total miles
were accomplished while towing
M-l tanks under various road
condi tions. Some two-thirds of
those towing miles were with
upweighted 70--ton ~ a n k s .
After the test, the data collected
by the test team was provided
to TEXCOM's sister agency-
the U.S. Army Operational Evalu-
ation Command, in Alexandria,
Va.-to formulate recommenda-
tions for decision makers based
on test results.
U. S. Army
Test and Ex-
perimentation
Command
,
Readers may address matters con-
cerning test and experimentation
to-
Headquarters, TEXCOM, AnN:
CSTE-TCS-PAO, Fort Hood, TX
76544-5065.
An M-1 Abrams tank is purposely overturned to test the boom capability of the new Improved Recovery Vehicle.
48 u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993
SOLDIERS' SPOTLIGHT
Command Sergeant Major Fredy Finch Jr
Master Sergeant Promotion
Board Analysis
Looking at the last six master
sergeant promotion boards will give
the sergeant first class a vision of
how his or her promotion opportu-
nity looks. During this time, we have
seen the Army average selection rate
go from 17.1 percent in 1989 to this
year's low of 7.0 percent. Although
this trend appears to indicate a slow-
ing of promotions, it more acutely
reflects a steadily decreasing
population of those being consid-
ered for an ever-decreasing number
of first sergeant/master sergeant
positions.
As we know, the Army is
downsizing. In 1989, more than
24,000 soldiers were considered for
more than 4,100 available positions.
In 1993, 22,000 soldiers were con-
sidered for just under 1,600 avail-
able positions. In the Aviation
Branch, we have always been above
the Army average. In 1993, our
branch was double the Army aver-
age (14.8 percent). This is due to the
outstanding selection rate of career
management field (CMF) 67 (17.4
percent). CMF 67 had the third-
highest selection rate of any CMF in
the Army in 1993.
With the Aviation Restructure
Initiative, Army Aviation has just
about bottomed out on the draw-
down. We can assume that our au-
thorizations will remain as they are
now for the immediate future. In
1989, Army Aviation had 280 pro-
motions to fill an authorization of
734; in 1993, Army Aviation had
only 124 promotions for about 647
authorizations. Yes, this is a very
large decrease in four years, but we
can expect the worst to be over. With
the change in the reenlistment con-
trol points, we can expect to see
many of our master sergeants getting
out up to three years earlier than
before.
With a decrease inauthorizations,
our soldiers must be more competi-
tive. Looking at the panel chief's
comments on the 1993 master ser-
geant board, we can see ways to
improve and become more competi-
tive. His comments show that our
two CMFs (93 and 67) are strong
at the sergeant first class level.
The potential to sustain sound
noncommissioned officer (NCO)
leadership into the next century
appears to be very high. There
u.s. Army Aviation Digest September/October 1993 PIN: 071803-000
are no less than five fully qualified
sergeants first class for each master
sergeant/first sergeant promotion
quota in the CMFs.
According to the panel chief, most
of the Aviation Branch NCOs are in
sound physical condition, butit would
appear that we need to calibrate our
tapes. He indicated that the photo
will truly tell the story if a soldier is
overweight. It appears that we have
far too many senior soldiers who
look fat. The panel looked at each
militaryoccupationalspecialtywithin
the CMFwith the understanding that
some have more opportunities for
leadership than others. Once again,
however, it appears that the very best
NCOs distinguish themselves over
the very good by seeking out the
tough/leader jobs.
Those who want to maintain a
competitive edge over their peers
will volunteer for the tough
leadership jobs, continue civilian
education, attend Noncommissioned
Officer Education System courses
on time, and remain the physica II y fi t
and proficient NCOs that the
Avia tion Branch needs to lead our
highly skilled soldiers.
49

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